Administration Expands Coverage for Anti-Obesity Medications

The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (“NAAOP”), commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) for announcing today the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for anti-obesity medications to treat obesity itself, effective in January 2026. Due to the significant impact that obesity and related chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardio-vascular disease have on individuals with limb loss and mobility disabilities, NAAOP took a lead role in spearheading a campaign to support this coverage expansion.

 

NAAOP worked over the past year with the Amputee Coalition, members of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Alliance (comprised of AOPA, the Academy, ABC and BOC), and the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (“ITEM”) Coalition to build support for this coverage expansion from consumer, disability, and clinical organizations. NAAOP sincerely thanks the organizations that supported this initiative for their strong commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

 

“Coupled with a dramatic decrease in the cost of these drugs that this Administration negotiated with major drug companies, the coverage expansion announced today is expected to have a profound effect on access to these medications for individuals with limb loss and individuals with mobility disabilities,” stated Peter W. Thomas, J.D., NAAOP General Counsel. “While we are very pleased with this landmark decision, we intend to continue working with the Administration, state Medicaid plans, private insurers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary and provider groups to ensure widespread access to these treatments, when needed, to help manage weight and reduce the incidence of chronic illnesses.”

 

“There is a strong correlation between mobility impairment and obesity,” stated Nate Kapa, CP, NAAOP President and a practicing prosthetist. “We believe this coverage policy will help lower the incidence of limb loss and improve prosthetic outcomes for our patients who struggle to maintain their weight through diet and exercise alone.”

 

Individuals with mobility disabilities often encounter barriers when trying to maintain a healthy weight, including inaccessible fitness facilities, lack of coverage of activity-specific prostheses and orthoses, and the limitations of their physical impairments themselves. Anti-obesity medications are an important tool that clinicians will now be able to use to help patients improve their health, functional status, degree of independence, and to decrease unnecessary chronic illnesses that often accompany obesity.