FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC—The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act in both the United States House and Senate. Led by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Gwen Moore (D-WI), this critical legislation would expand Medicare coverage for the full continuum of obesity care, recognizing obesity as a chronic, treatable disease that affects over 40 percent of Americans aged 60 and older.

First introduced in 2013, TROA has consistently generated bipartisan support, reflecting a growing consensus among policymakers on the need to address the nation’s obesity epidemic. Modernizing Medicare policy by removing outdated barriers to care is supported by a majority of Americans--including 82 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats. Expanding Medicare coverage and access to intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) will be key to making America healthy and addressing the nation’s chronic disease crisis.

“Obesity is one of the leading contributors to preventable disease and rising healthcare costs in the U.S.,” said Cristy Gallagher, Coordinator of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network. “The introduction of TROA is a welcome and vital step toward ensuring all Americans have access to comprehensive obesity treatments. OCAN commends Senators Cassidy and Luján and Representatives Kelly, Miller-Meeks, Ruiz, and Moore, for standing up on behalf of the millions of Americans living with obesity.”

The legislation would clarify an old statute that is interpreted to prohibit Medicare Part D from covering evidence-based obesity medications. TROA also enhances access to IBT under Medicare Part B, which, under the current policy, can only be provided by primary care doctors. TROA expands access to IBT to ensure a broader array of healthcare providers, including registered dietitian nutritionists, obesity medicine specialists, endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons, clinical psychologists, and community-based providers. By expanding access to lifestyle-based interventions like IBT, TROA ensures patients with obesity will have access to the full spectrum of obesity care.

TROA has garnered widespread support from healthcare providers, patient advocates, and the business community, reflecting the broad consensus on the need to remove outdated barriers to care. OCAN urges Congress to prioritize obesity as a public health crisis and to swiftly pass TROA.

About OCAN

The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) is a diverse group of organizations who have come together to change how the nation perceives and approaches our country’s obesity epidemic by educating and advocating for public policies and increased funding for obesity education, research, treatment, and care. For more information, visit www.obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com