4.19.2023 Board Book

ers and challenges to staging demonstration projects in obesity treatment and support, and how other organizations might help shoulder the burden of implementing them. One early focus might be on retirees with employer-sponsored health care benefits. The National Alliance of Health Care Purchaser Coalitions recently highlighted the fact that employers with obligations for retiree health care are increasingly turning to Medicare Advantage and Employee Group Waiver Plans (EGWP) for coverage of retirees.¹² Ad ministered by commercial health insurers, Medicare Advantage plans increasingly offer a range of non-medical benefits that are now eligible as Medicare benefits addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and health-related social needs (HRSNs), includ ing nutrition and other services that are relevant to weight management. The Medicare Advantage program has also sponsored an ongoing national demonstration of VBID benefits. There is a serious public interest to be served by demonstration of new strategies for obesity treatment and support that will create better health and durable results for per sons with obesity, not to mention a positive impact on health care spending, including spending in the Medicare program. Well-designed demonstrations in Medicare Advan tage – including demonstrations among the nearly 6 million U.S. retirees with EGWP plans, should be of prime interest to large employers and the Medicare program alike.

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Envisioning Value-based Provider Payment for Obesity Treatment and Support