And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda so far appears quite modest. We plan to catch up on our reading, take a few needed naps and promenade with the official mascots, weather permitting. We also hope to hold another listening party where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? If temperatures cooperate, this may be a fine time to enjoy the great outdoors — a walk in the woods or maybe a stroll along city streets. You could binge-watch something on the telly before streaming fees rise again. Or you could reach out to someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon …
Some Medicare members could get help paying for the popular new weight loss drug Wegovy — as long as they have a history of heart disease and are using it to prevent recurring heart attacks and strokes, The Wall Street Journal reports. Medicare Part D drug-benefit plans may cover weight loss drugs if approved for an additional use that is considered medically accepted under federal law. The new guidance cracks open Medicare reimbursement of the popular obesity drugs, potentially paving the way for thousands of new people getting prescriptions and for billions of dollars in additional spending on them. It could also add to the pressure on commercial health plans to cover the drugs.
Germany’s public health insurance scheme can cover certain patients with a risk of heart disease or strokes to take the weight loss Wegovy drug, a big boost for Novo Nordisk’s efforts to convince governments of its wider medical benefits, Reuters says. The European Medicines Agency has been reviewing wider use of Wegovy to include reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks, adding to the previously approved use to tackle obesity. Guidance posted online by health agency G-BA said that regulation banning Germany’s health insurance system from paying for weight loss drugs would not apply in the case of other approved uses of the weekly injection.
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