
RFK Jr vs. Dr. Oz: The Looming Battle Over Weight-Loss Drugs
There's a major clash brewing in Washington, and it’s all about weight-loss drugs. On one side, we have Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently tapped by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. He’s been outspoken about tackling obesity but is deeply skeptical of weight-loss medications. On the other, there’s Mehmet Oz—yes, Dr. Oz—the former TV doctor and Trump’s pick to run Medicare and Medicaid. Oz is a strong advocate for drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, calling them game-changers for those trying to shed pounds.
The heart of the debate? Whether Medicare and Medicaid should cover these expensive medications. Right now, most private insurers don’t cover them for weight loss, and federal law prevents Medicare from doing so. Biden’s administration had proposed expanding coverage, but now it’s up to Trump’s team to decide.
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For millions of Americans struggling with obesity, these medications offer real hope. Just ask Dr. Mollie Cecil, a weight management specialist who lost 40 pounds on one of these drugs. She felt like a new person—until her insurance stopped covering it. Like many patients, she regained much of the weight. The cost is a huge barrier, with these drugs running around $1,000 a month.
Kennedy sees obesity as a national crisis but believes the solution lies in diet and lifestyle changes, not medication. He argues that if Americans ate real, unprocessed food, obesity could be solved overnight. Oz, on the other hand, has spent years promoting weight-loss solutions and believes these drugs should be accessible to those who need them.
The financial stakes are massive. Covering these drugs under Medicare and Medicaid could cost over $36 billion in the next decade. But some experts argue that tackling obesity now could save billions in healthcare costs down the line.
So, will Trump’s team embrace these drugs or block them? With Kennedy and Oz at odds, the answer is anything but clear.
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