Indiana Medicaid will soon begin covering GLP-1 medications for obesity after Gov. Mike Braun directed the state to participate in a new federal initiative designed to make the treatments more affordable.

Program Details

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, which oversees Medicaid benefits for about 1.9 million Hoosiers, will join the federal BALANCE model, a program aimed at reducing the cost of GLP-1 medications for state Medicaid programs and patients.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center developed the initiative in partnership with pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, to expand access to obesity medications while lowering costs.

Under the program, Indiana Medicaid will pay $85.16 per month toward treatment costs. The remaining cost of the medication, listed at $245 per month per person, will be covered through federal contributions and manufacturer discounts.

Impact on Hoosiers

State officials have not yet released specific eligibility requirements or a timeline for when coverage will begin because the agreement is still being finalized.

Expanding access to obesity treatments could help some Hoosiers improve their health, remain in the workforce or return to employment, while potentially reducing reliance on public assistance programs.

David A. Ricks, chair and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly, said expanding access to obesity medications could have significant health and economic impacts in Indiana.

Ricks said about 71% of Indiana adults are living with obesity or overweight and estimated the impact costs the state’s economy about $10.7 billion annually.

Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.