Obesity affects over 100 million Americans, costs the healthcare system hundreds of billions annually, and leads to severe health complications. Yet, Medicare—the nation’s largest health insurer for older adults—still provides limited support for obesity care.
But that could soon change.
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA)—a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress—aims to close these gaps by expanding coverage for behavioral therapy and FDA-approved weight loss medications. It represents a critical turning point in how the U.S. addresses obesity not just as a lifestyle issue, but as a chronic disease requiring medical treatment.
What Is the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act?
The TROA (H.R.4818 in the House and S.2407 in the Senate) proposes:
- Expanding Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) access to include professionals beyond primary care physicians (e.g., registered dietitians, psychologists).
- Allowing Medicare Part D to cover FDA-approved anti-obesity medications—currently prohibited by outdated rules.
If passed, this bill could transform obesity care for over 60 million Medicare beneficiaries.
Why Is This Act Needed?
- High Costs: Obesity-related conditions cost the U.S. over $480 billion in direct health expenses each year.
- Aging Population: More than 40% of adults over age 60 are affected by obesity.
- Limited Access: Current Medicare rules only cover IBT under specific settings and exclude obesity drugs altogether.
This creates a treatment gap, especially for low-income older adults.
What Changes Would TROA Bring?
If passed, TROA will:
- Broaden access to behavioral therapy providers.
- Include modern obesity medications like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound).
- Reduce downstream costs from unmanaged conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
- Promote early intervention to prevent long-term disability and dependency.
Challenges Ahead
- 💵 Cost Concerns: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that covering obesity drugs could add $35 billion to Medicare costs by 2034.
- 🧮 Limited short-term savings: Weight loss reduces long-term health risks, but immediate budget savings are unclear.
- 🏛️ Political climate: With the 2024 election shaping healthcare priorities, TROA’s progress will depend on continued bipartisan support.
Why This Matters Now
Obesity is a non-partisan crisis. TROA represents one of the most serious legislative attempts in decades to align policy with science—treating obesity not with blame, but with evidence-backed solutions.
If the U.S. hopes to curb healthcare costs and increase healthy life expectancy, supporting acts like TROA is not just smart policy—it’s essential.