The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has started a temporary pilot program to help eligible seniors pay for GLP-1 medications used to treat obesity.

美國醫療保險和醫療補助服務中心（CMS）已啟動一項臨時試行計畫，協助合資格長者支付用於治療肥胖的 GLP-1 藥物費用。

Starting July 1, the 'Medicare GLP-1 Bridge' program makes drugs like Zepbound, Wegovy, and Foundayo more affordable by reducing the monthly cost for patients to $50. This is a significant change for the 10 million seniors who are overweight or obese, as many previously paid between $1,086 and $1,650 per month. To qualify, patients must have Medicare Part D and a BMI of 35 or higher, or a BMI of 27 if they have other health issues like prediabetes. However, people with type 2 diabetes or severe sleep apnea are excluded because these conditions may already be covered by other insurance plans.

從 7 月 1 日起，「Medicare GLP-1 過渡」計畫將 Zepbound、Wegovy 和 Foundayo 等藥物的每月費用降低至 50 美元，使其更實惠。對於 1,000 萬名體重過重或肥胖的長者來說，這是一個重大改變，因為許多人先前每月支付 1,086 到 1,650 美元。要符合資格，患者必須擁有 Medicare Part D 且 BMI 達 35 或以上；若患有糖尿病前期的其他健康問題，BMI 則需達 27。然而，患有 2 型糖尿病或嚴重睡眠呼吸中止症的人被排除在外，因為這些狀況可能已由其他保險計畫涵蓋。

Different organizations have different views on the program. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz asserted that the project will provide important data to help decide on long-term coverage. On the other hand, doctors have emphasized several risks. They are concerned that health systems cannot handle the sudden increase in paperwork and that the CMS digital systems might fail. Furthermore, some medical professionals warned that elderly patients might experience dangerous drops in blood pressure, especially if they are already taking heart medication.

不同機構對該計畫看法不一。CMS 行政官 Mehmet Oz 博士聲稱，該項目將提供重要數據，以協助決定長期保障方案。另一方面，醫生則強調了幾項風險。他們擔心醫療系統無法處理突然增加的文書工作，且 CMS 的數位系統可能會失效。此外，部分醫療專業人士警告，年長患者可能會出現危險的血壓下降，尤其是如果他們已在服用心臟藥物的情況下。

To help patients understand the program, companies like Walmart and CVS Health have offered more pharmacy consultations and online guides. This is necessary because about 82% of patients were previously unaware of such options. Despite these efforts, there are concerns about the future. The program is scheduled to end in 2027, and experts worry that patients may regain weight if the government and drug companies do not reach a permanent agreement.

為了幫助患者了解該計畫，Walmart 和 CVS Health 等公司提供了更多藥局諮詢和線上指南。這是必要的，因為約 82% 的患者先前不知道有此類選項。儘管有這些努力，但對未來仍有憂慮。該計畫預計於 2027 年結束，專家擔心若政府與藥廠未能達成永久協議，患者可能會體重反彈。

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers discounted obesity medication to eligible seniors until 2027, while the government evaluates the results and administrative process.

Medicare GLP-1 過渡計畫將為合資格長者提供折扣肥胖藥物直至 2027 年，同時政府將評估結果與行政流程。