Trump administration close to deal for Medicare coverage of obesity drugs

• It also could lead to a broader impact on people's access to these drugs, since Medicare often influences what private insurers choose to cover.

The arrangement would be possible under a deal with the companies that would decrease the price of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy to $149 a month on the TrumpRX website for the lowest dose and Eli Lilly's Zepbound to $299, per the Wall Street Journal.

• The Journal reported that the deal could also allow Medicaid coverage of the drugs.
• Endpoints News first reported the details of the emerging deal.

The other side: "Discussion about deals that have not been officially announced by the Administration should be regarded as speculation," said White House spokesman Kush Desai.

Context: Medicare already covers GLP-1s for diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea, and about half of seniors with obesity are already eligible for the drugs due to other conditions.

• In April, the Trump administration scrapped a Biden-era proposal to let Medicare and Medicaid cover GLP-1s to treat obesity. The plan would have cost some $40 billion over 10 years.
• This would be the latest in a line of deals between the White House and drugmakers to lower drug prices paid by Americans.

This story has been updated with a comment from the White House.