STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicaid obesity-drug coverage, a Regenxbio gene therapy, and more

Good morning and welcome to another work week. The weekend break was likely relaxing, but returning to meetings and deadlines awaits. To combat the return to routine, today's choice of pick-me-up is tiramisu.

President Trump pledged to make pricey weight loss drugs widely available for low-income Americans under Medicaid. However, the plan is not going as expected. Last year, Trump promised Medicaid would provide access to GLP-1 drugs if states agreed to negotiate prices directly with manufacturers. Yet, only Indiana has publicly committed to this arrangement. Many states have halted coverage for these drugs for Medicaid patients requiring weight loss assistance. Additionally, some states are contemplating ending coverage.

The issue lies in budget constraints and concerns over the long-term financial viability of Trump's model. The administration intends to employ a new method to deny Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming drugs. This decision could potentially be applied to other prescription medications, undermining the widespread expectation that Medicaid covers most drugs.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a final rule on October 13 barring the use of federal Medicaid and CHIP funds for pediatric gender-affirming medications and surgery. The rule gained attention as the latest move in the administration's effort to halt transgender healthcare for young individuals. For more details, continue to STAT+.