Wegovy covered by Medicare: Insurance provider can now cover weight loss drug for some senior citizens, others with heart disease [Video]

Medicare could start covering Wegovy for certain senior citizens and other beneficiaries with a history of heart disease now that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved drugmaker Novo Nordisk’s application to add cardiovascular benefits to the medicine’s label.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it has informed insurers that provide Medicare Part D drug plans that they could cover the medication after the FDA expanded the approval this month.

“CMS has issued guidance to Medicare Part D plans stating that anti-obesity medications (AOMs) that receive FDA approval for an additional medically accepted indication can be considered a Part D drug for that specific use,” CMS said in a statement.

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Medicare is not allowed by law to cover drugs for chronic weight management, although Congress is facing pressure to change that. But if the same medication also receives …