CMS to test Medicare coverage for GLP‑1 weight drugs — threshold crossed

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a voluntary model to allow Medicare Part D plans and state Medicaid programs to cover GLP‑1 drugs for weight management under a pilot program. The move signals a major shift in public payer engagement with obesity pharmacotherapies. CMS framed the model as a path to expand access while testing payment and utilization controls. The voluntary test will inform whether broader Medicare coverage for pharmacologic weight management is feasible under current benefit structures. The pilot will be closely watched by manufacturers, PBMs and state Medicaid agencies for implications on demand, price negotiation and formulary strategies for GLP‑1 agents.