Physician Discusses Barriers to Accessing Weight-Loss Drugs

Obesity medicine physician Eleanor Yusupov, D.O., assistant professor of clinical specialties at NYITCOM, is quoted in a Medscape article about drug coverage policies for weight-loss medications. Yusupov explains that, despite some progress made to expand insurance coverage, major barriers, including high costs and inconsistent insurance access, still limit patients’ ability to obtain weight-loss drugs.

“Medicaid coverage varies between states and can even vary depending on the specific Medicaid program within the state, as we see in New York,” Yusupov said. “Out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients continue to leave these treatments out of reach for many people.”

She also notes that some of the most meaningful price shifts this year have come directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers, as a result of political pressures and increased competition to gain market share. She states, “…we have seen prices for Zepbound and Wegovy come down if purchased directly from these companies, bypassing retail pharmacies.”