Tuesday, July 8, 2025 (Washington, DC) — In response to the reintroduction of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) in both the United States House and Senate, Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP) CEO Millicent Gorham issued the following statement:
“The bipartisan reintroduction of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act in the House marks an important step in acknowledging obesity as the chronic disease that it is. If passed, TROA would expand needed coverage for obesity care for the millions of older Americans who rely on Medicare.
Obesity is a serious, yet treatable disease that impacts 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries. What’s more, the disease is associated with over 200 health complications, including many that specifically affect women, such as breast and ovarian cancers. Passing TROA will help to combat the obesity epidemic by expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy and FDA-approved obesity medications—two important, evidence-based tools for treating the disease, along with nutrition services and weight loss surgery.
Access to obesity care is popular among Americans and can yield economic benefits. Over 75% of older adults favor Medicare coverage for obesity management medications. Obesity-related illness and injury represent 8.5% of annual Medicare spending, but recent data show that improved access to some obesity medications can reduce future medical costs resulting from the serious health complications linked to the disease. With the government’s renewed focus on prevention and combating chronic diseases, treating obesity can play an integral role in making Americans healthier.
We commend Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) for his leadership on this critical issue and are grateful to all H.R.4231 co-sponsors, including Representatives Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Mike Carey (R-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), David Schweikert (R-AZ), John B. Larson (D-CT), Don Bacon (R-NE), Shomari Figures (D-AL) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
With this milestone, we reiterate our appreciation for Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) for introducing TROA (S.1973) in the U.S. Senate a few weeks ago, along with additional co-sponsors—Senators Thomas 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 C. Peters (D-MI), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ted Budd (R-NC).
We look forward to working with both chambers of Congress to move this legislation forward. 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