wa-law.org > bill > 2023-24 > SB 6182 > Original Bill

SB 6182 - Obesity Rx coverage

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Section 1

  1. The legislature finds that obesity is a serious condition that can be associated with some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

  2. The United States food and drug administration recently approved new drugs for chronic weight management in adults with obesity that activate receptors of hormones to reduce appetite and food intake, citing the health benefits of these drugs when done in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

  3. The legislature concurs with the United States food and drug administration that these drugs present an option to address an unmet medical need for many in Washington, and that obesity has been found to be disproportionately present in low-income adults in our state.

  4. In light of the health benefits, both short and long term, the legislature intends with this act to authorize United States food and drug administration drugs approved for chronic weight management be added to the state's medicaid preferred drug list, and to public employee health benefit plan coverage.

Section 2

  1. A health benefit plan offered to public employees and their covered dependents under this chapter that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, must provide prescription drug coverage for glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists and other similar medications when prescribed by a health care provider for the treatment of obesity if the patient is determined to be obese or has a body mass index value of at least 27 with at least one weight-related medical condition.

  2. For the purpose of this section, "obesity" or "obese" means a body mass index value of 30 or more.

Section 3

  1. The authority shall ensure that medicaid managed care organizations provide prescription drug coverage for glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists and other similar medications when prescribed by a health care provider for the treatment of obesity if the patient is determined to be obese or has a body mass index value of at least 27 with at least one weight-related medical condition.

  2. For the purpose of this section, "obesity" or "obese" means a body mass index value of 30 or more.

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