West Virginia University’s Director of Medical Weight Management, Dr. Laura Davisson, has highlighted the “incredible” results of a now-canceled pilot program that provided weight-loss drugs to state employees. The program, which included medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, resulted in participants losing an average of 15% of their body weight, along with improvements in blood pressure and diabetes markers. Many patients were able to reduce or discontinue some of their medications, which led Dr. Davisson to argue that the program’s benefits were significant in addressing both health and long-term healthcare costs.
However, the program was suspended in March 2024 by the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) due to rising expenses. The cost of covering approximately 1,000 participants using GLP-1 medications, including manufacturer rebates, reached around $1.3 million per month. PEIA Director Brian Cunningham cited these mounting costs as the primary reason for cutting the program.
While Dr. Davisson acknowledges the financial concerns, she cautioned that ending the program could be a poor fiscal decision in the long term. West Virginia has the highest adult obesity rate in the nation at 41.6%, and she stressed that the state requires more comprehensive treatments beyond basic lifestyle interventions. “A gym membership won’t be enough to effectively treat someone who is 600 or 700 pounds,” she said, in reference to patients who may not benefit from traditional weight-loss methods.
State Sen. Tom Takubo, who chairs the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and PEIA, agreed with the effectiveness of the medications but pointed out that the program’s $90 million price tag was unsustainable. He added that legislators are in talks with drug manufacturers to find more cost-effective solutions.
This debate comes at a time when President Joe Biden has proposed expanding coverage for obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid, though the implementation of such policies would depend on future administrations. Dr. Davisson hopes that the successful results from West Virginia’s pilot program will serve as a model for other insurance companies and states facing similar challenges with obesity and healthcare costs.
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