Medicaid Programs Are Slow to Cover GLP-1s, but That Could Soon Change

Most states do not cover GLP-1s and other obesity medications for Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a recent analysis. However, one of the report’s authors tells AIS Health, a division of MMIT, that more states are pondering whether to place GLP-1s on their formularies and weighing the drugs’ health benefits with their high costs. 

The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) released the report on June 3 based on data from fee-for-service and managed Medicaid programs in 2023. STOP, which is housed within the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, conducts research, makes policy recommendations and develops online resources. OAC is an advocacy organization with more than 80,000 members.