CONCORD, N.H.- Talks over giving adults on Medicaid access to GLP-1 medications for weight loss is back before lawmakers.
The conversation comes after the state back in January terminated access to these drugs for adults who don’t also have some other comorbidity condition, like Type-2 diabetes and or cardiovascular disease.
Under Senate Bill 455 the state’s Department of Health and Human Services would cover GLP-1 medications under Medicaid if the medication is medically necessary for a patient based on certain health conditions, as the bill’s sponsor Sen. Sue Prentiss D-Lebanon says she was able to lose 80 pounds two years ago.
Concerns over funding remain, as Dr. Jonathan Ballard, Chief Medical officer with the Department of Health and Human Services maintains the agency can’t afford to restore coverage of those medications which amounts to $2 million in the next year and $19 million more in the next two-year state budget.
The House committee now has until May 7, 2026, to make a recommendation on the bill.
