Lawmakers are trying to restore access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, after Ohio removed medical coverage for state employees.

Columbus

Ohio has recently removed coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, from its state employee benefits plan due to high costs. State Representative Josh Williams, who has personally benefited from these medications, is introducing legislation to reimburse employees for a portion of the drug costs.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services cited the growing expense, with 3,500 employees costing the state over $40 million, as the reason for the change. While coverage remains for diabetes treatment, the move to restrict weight loss use aligns with trends in other states and among private insurers. Williams' bill aims to provide up to $500 per month in reimbursement for employees in their first year of GLP-1 treatment.

Ohio lawmakers push to restore state employee access to Ozempic

The high cost of GLP-1 medications for weight loss is causing some insurers to drop them. In fact, a new survey found that managing the cost of those drugs is a big concern for three out of four employers, and more than half are likely to reduce benefits next year to do it. And now the state of Ohio is one of the latest to stop offering coverage for Ozimbic and similar products. Columbus Bureau reporter Morgan Trau explains why and how lawmakers are fighting back. When he was 21 years old, Josh Williams fell, crushing his back, causing 20 years of pain. I underwent a lot of back surgeries, and at one point I grew to 458 pounds in my heaviest. I was on prescription opiates for over a decade, and it ruined my metabolism. He says his struggle to lose the weight exacerbated his back pain, but one drug made all the difference. Williams has been on WeGovi, a GLP-1 weight loss drug similar to Ozimbic. It allowed me to get out of the bed and get back into the workforce. Williams is a state representative, which is why he's introducing a bill to help other state employees get access to the drug. The Ohio Department of Administrative Services, or DAS, announced that starting July 1st, GLP-1 medications would no longer be covered by the state's benefits plan for weight loss. It will still be covered for diabetes. I wish they would have reached out to legislators for a chance to fix this. So Williams created a fix of his own, authoring HB388, which would require DAS to reimburse employees up to $500 per month in the first year of GLP-1 treatment. DAS was unable to do an interview with us, but medical law expert Sharona Hoffman explains that the sudden popularity in GLP-1 products has dramatically increased the prices. If you have budget constraints to try to figure out what you can eliminate, and I'm not that surprised they're focusing on this. According to DAS, the 3,500 employees on the medications have cost the state more than $40 million. She says that not everyone truly needs the weight loss drugs. Some people, it's a cosmetic thing. Health insurance usually does not cover elective treatments. And she explains that removing coverage for the medications isn't unique to Ohio. Only about half the states currently provide coverage. Some insurance companies are also restricting some or all of GLP-1 medications, like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem. And although Williams is frustrated by DAS, he also blames pharmacy benefit managers, PBMs, for the high cost. And our employees should have access to it. Williams, who is now running for Congress, says that he will not benefit from his proposal. At the Ohio Statehouse, I'm Morgan Trouw reporting.

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