Letter to the editor: Obesity drug coverage will improve our communities

I am an active member of my community and someone who cares deeply about the health and economic well-being of our communities. I’m writing to urge lawmakers to support Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 medications used to treat obesity.

This is not a political issue. It’s about people — working families in our communities who are doing their best but are up against a chronic disease that’s far more complex than personal choice. Obesity now affects more than one in three Americans, and Pennsylvania is no exception. The costs — in lives, livelihoods and taxpayer dollars — are staggering. The CDC estimates obesity costs more than $6,400 per worker per year.

We can’t afford to keep ignoring proven solutions. GLP-1 medications, approved by the FDA, have shown real promise in helping people lose weight, manage diabetes and reduce long-term health risks. When paired with lifestyle support, they don’t just improve individual outcomes — they bend the cost curve for all of us.

This is a conservative case for compassionate, evidence-based policy. We already spend billions on the consequences of obesity. Covering GLP-1s through Medicaid is not a handout; it’s an investment in our workforce, our economy and the long-term stability of our health care system.

Polling released this month by the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition found nearly 70% of Republicans and Trump voters support coverage of these medications through Medicare and Medicaid. That reflects what I hear from families in Westmoreland County: People want practical health care that works — not lectures, not stigma, not more red tape.

Jennifer Bretz

Hempfield