With obesity being such a serious national health problem, it makes little sense as to why Medicare does not cover medications and other treatments to combat it. Obesity carries with it higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and a myriad of other health issues. Unfortunately, West Virginia has the highest obesity rate in the nation at more than 40%. Pair that with a high rate of chronic disease and one of the largest senior citizens populations in the country, severe health consequences are just over the horizon if changes aren’t made to fight obesity.
According to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly 25% of West Virginians are on Medicare. Given the state’s large senior population and crippling rate of obesity, it is obvious thousands of residents would benefit from anti-obesity treatments being included under Medicare coverage. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which is sponsored by Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Congresswoman Carol Miller, can update Medicare to include anti-obesity medications and behavior therapy treatments.
The passage of this legislation is the first step in combating America’s obesity problem. The TROA improves accessibility to treatments that can help seniors living with obesity lose weight while reducing their risk for other serious diseases. Having access to anti-obesity medications and intensive behavior therapy can help supplement diet and exercise, especially if an individual is currently living with mobility or nutritional challenges.
Including these obesity treatments under Medicare also avoids financial challenges for the seniors that may need them. With many seniors living on fixed incomes, the additional prices of anti-obesity medications and other treatments are out-of-pocket expenses that do not align with their budgets. If the TROA is passed, seniors will not have to worry about additional expenses to receive treatment that can improve their quality of life.
Obesity has been classified as a disease since 2013. It is time Medicare Part D was updated to reflect that. I have witnessed the challenges obesity causes in seniors over the course of my career and understand the need for better accessibility to treatments that can help them.
Our nation’s leaders need to act quickly to pass the TROA so seniors across America can have more tools at their disposal to improve their lives and wellness. The passage of the TROA is the first step in fighting back against obesity.
Justice Harris is an experienced travel nurse and certified nursing assistant. She has experience caring for seniors in various facilities throughout West Virginia.