Governor Gavin Newsom proposed cutting Medi-Cal coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications in his May revision of the state budget. Now, it’s up to the California State Legislature to keep coverage for these crucial medications for those who need it most.

Cutting Medi-Cal coverage for obesity medications would harm many of the 27% of Californians who have obesity. Californians with obesity on Medi-Cal have come to rely on FDA-approved obesity medications to improve their health and manage their weight. Balancing the budget by cutting access to obesity medications would disrupt care and put patients at risk for many expensive and preventable illnesses, including type 2 diabetes. Eliminating coverage for these medications would increase costs for patients and rates of obesity in the state. 

Action is needed now. The ADA predicts that 41% of Californians will have obesity by 2030 if our state does not take action to reverse this trend. Cutting Medi-Cal coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications would only worsen rates of obesity and related health outcomes. 

Urge the California State Legislature to take action to ensure that coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications stays in the California State Budget.