Efforts to Cut Prescription Drug Costs

President Joe Biden has led efforts to cut the cost of prescription drugs for Americans. On Tuesday, he proposed expanding access to weight loss drugs for millions more Americans.

Currently, under Medicare and Medicaid, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are largely available only for overweight individuals with diabetes or heart disease. The White House announced that Biden aims to make these medications available as a treatment for obesity itself, potentially benefiting nearly 7.5 million older and lower-income Americans.

"For too many Americans, these critical treatments are too expensive and therefore out of reach," a White House official stated, highlighting that 42 percent of Americans are obese.

The Department of Health and Human Services emphasized in a statement that these "transformative medications" could enhance the "health and quality of life for millions who have obesity."

This initiative could assist 3.4 million people with Medicare—primarily those over age 65—and four million eligible individuals through Medicaid aimed at lower income residents.

Opposition from Incoming Administration

The plan may face challenges from Trump's incoming health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has opposed anti-obesity drugs in the past. In October, he argued against a Congressional bill to expand drug access, suggesting funds would be better spent on improving nutrition.

"If we spent about one fifth of that giving good food, three meals a day to every man, woman and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight," Kennedy said on Fox News.

Kennedy also criticized Novo Nordisk's reliance on selling their products in America: "counting on selling it to Americans because we're so stupid and addicted to drugs."

Biden's Approach vs. Trump's Fiscal Strategy

Biden has focused on reducing prescription medicine costs during his term—a key part of his reelection campaign before withdrawing in July. He called upon companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to decrease prices for diabetes and weight loss medications.