Medication costs are too high for many patients
Isis Smith, MD, an internist at University Medical Center in New Orleans, said in an interview that the cost of the most effective medications – which are not covered by Medicaid – means that many of her patients don’t have access to these treatments.
“We’re talking about $1,000 a month. And so there is no way they can afford [them]. I can prescribe phentermine [but] unless a patient has another indication, Medicaid will not pay for it,” she explained.
“I love hearing about all of the new developments. ... It’s interesting to hear, but we need to get insurance to pay so that I can actually prescribe,” Dr. Smith noted.
Dr. Apovian reports financial relationships with Xeno Biosciences, Cowen, Allergan, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Nutrition, and other companies.