Medicaid is picking up the tab for popular diet drug options in Michigan.
Demand for weight loss drugs is on the rise, even though they can cost $10,000 or more per year. Bridge Michigan reports that Michigan is one of 16 states that extends Medicaid coverage for weight loss only, which costs the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Drugs such as Ozempic and Victoza, previously approved several years ago for Type 2 Diabetes, are approved for weight loss in the state. Last year the state’s Medicaid program covered the drugs for more than 67,000 patients at a cost of more than $393 million. That’s a big jump from $89.5 million just two years before.