Staff Reports
The proposed subsidy for weight-loss drugs just might be the perfect storm of political absurdity, absurdly expensive at that. It seems that the pharmaceutical lobby has managed to pull a quick one on the federal government, all while consumers get to watch their taxpayer dollars disappear faster than ice cream at a summer barbecue. The Biden administration is eagerly expanding coverage for drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro under government-backed healthcare plans, which can only be described as a mashup of corporatism and fiscal irresponsibility.
In the latest episode of “Who Needs an Election Year Anyway?” the administration is planning to redefine weight-loss drugs as essential medications for “chronic health conditions.” What’s the reasoning here? Apparently, obesity can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Cue the applause from the pharmaceutical giants who can now sell these pricey injections to a whole new demographic—Medicaid recipients. Nothing spells fiscal conservatism like throwing billions of dollars at the drug industry while pretending it’s in the best interest of health—that is, if health means a permanent dependence on costly medications.
🚨 Major Health Reform Incoming:
• Biden admin to cover weight loss drugs under Medicare/Medicaid
• Drugs include Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro
• Costs to fall from $1K/month to affordable rates
• $25B Medicare, $11B Medicaid over 10 years pic.twitter.com/DeqbQOAJIU— Los Angeles Magazine (@LAmag) November 26, 2024
The cost estimates for this new health initiative hover around a staggering $40 billion over the next decade—money that most taxpayers won’t even know went missing from their paychecks until the bill arrives. It’s baffling that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services thinks it’s a good idea to indulge this ploy, which seems to feed into a growing trend of turning personal responsibility into taxpayer responsibility. Instead of encouraging healthier lifestyles, the government is perfectly fine with handing out a lifetime supply of diabetes drugs as the easy fix. This clever repositioning encourages rather than discourages poor lifestyle choices, making it much easier to inject oneself than to, say, hit the gym or eat a salad.
Let’s not ignore the fact that millions of Americans would rather stick needles into their arms than change their habits. The pharmaceutical industry stands poised to line its pockets while the bureaucratic overlords at Health and Human Services can look forward to cushy jobs in the private sector once they’ve finished handing out the loot. It seems the only expertise required for these public servants is the ability to snatch the money and run—as far away from good governance as possible.
In a world where pen strokes can legislate vast financial liabilities, the pendulum can swing both ways. With the right leadership, it could take just two months to reverse this lopsided fiscal disaster. Americans might just want to pull out their crayons and start sketching out the future—preferably one that discourages needless dependency on medications by promoting actual health solutions instead.
