"It's a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview. "It's a game changer for Americans who can't afford these drugs otherwise."
A bipartisan coalition of congressional members have lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity.
Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese - someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher - would qualify for coverage.
Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs.
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