Thursday, June 5, 2025 (Washington, DC) — In response to the reintroduction of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) led by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP) CEO Millicent Gorham issued the following statement:
“We are encouraged by recent bipartisan action to reintroduce the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act in the U.S. Senate. If implemented, TROA would close a critical access gap for millions of older Americans by providing Medicare coverage for obesity care. This change would be a positive step forward in treating obesity as the serious and chronic disease that it is.
Approximately 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries are living with obesity, and the disease is associated with over 200 health complications, including many that specifically affect women, such as breast and ovarian cancers. Obesity continues to be a major challenge to women’s health, and to combat this epidemic, we need every tool in the obesity care toolbox, from behavioral counseling and nutrition services to surgery and FDA-approved medication. Expanding coverage of evidence-based, comprehensive obesity care is imperative.
We know increased access to obesity care is popular. About half of Americans support the use of obesity management medications to treat obesity or weight-related conditions among adults, and over 75% of older adults favor Medicare coverage for these medications. What’s more, recent data shows improved access to some obesity medications has the potential to reduce future medical costs that result from the serious health complications linked to the disease. As policymakers look to curb federal healthcare spending, addressing obesity and related chronic diseases should be a top priority.
We commend Senator Cassidy for his leadership on this important issue and for taking decisive action to support women’s health. We are also grateful to all the co-sponsors, including Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Chris Coons (D-DE). We look forward to working with these senators as well as other policymakers in both chambers of Congress to bring this legislation over the finish line. Everybody deserves coverage for obesity care—it’s only fair.”
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About AWHP
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls.
For more information on AWHP, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg.
Media Contact: press@womenshealthandprevention.org