OMA BOT Book 4.24.2024

Advocacy Update for OMA Board of Trustees April 11, 2024

Federal Advocacy Treat and Reduce Obesity Act OMA Joins other Obesity Care Continuum Member Groups in March 4th Advocacy Day

More than 60 advocates from Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) groups visited Capitol Hill on March 4th during Obesity Care Week to encourage members of Congress to support passage of HR 4818/S. 2407, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA). Advocates visited with more than 70 congressional offices during the advocacy day, which has already resulted in 23 additional cosponsors supporting TROA. There are currently 114 cosponsors on the bill. OCAN Leaders Meet with Congressional Budget Office On February 22nd, OCAN Co-Chairs were joined by obesity medicine experts in meeting with staff from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is currently evaluating the 10-year cost of TROA as congressional healthcare committees begin to seriously consider the legislation. As part of this meeting, advocates urged CBO to take into account long-term savings associated with treating obesity as well as ensuring that any cost estimates account for obesity-related conditions that are already being treated by GLP-1s such as diabetes and now cardiovascular disease. OCAN Members Meet with White House Domestic Policy Council OCAN members also met with staff with President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council (DPC) on March 4th — the latest in a series of meetings with DPC where OCAN is encouraging the Biden Administration to take administrative action to implement TROA. State Advocacy OMA and other OCC member groups have been deeply involved at the state level working to both expand and protect coverage for obesity treatment. January 18, 2024: OAC expresses strong support for passage of Kentucky General Assembly Bill 24 RS BR 1087 - An Act Relating to Obesity Treatment, which would allow for evidence-based intensive behavioral therapy and FDA-approved anti-obesity medication coverage under Kentucky Medicaid. January 23, 2024: OAC urges members of the Washington Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care to support policy proposals that improve coverage for evidence-based obesity care, such as intensive behavioral therapy, FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, and metabolic and bariatric surgery.