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Trump Administration Weight Loss Drug Pilot: Medicare & Medicaid Coverage for Ozempic, Wegovy in 2026-2027 - GLP-1 Costs, State Participation & Obesity Treatment Policy Key Takeaways Medicare and Medicaid will launch voluntary pilot coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs ( Ozempic ,  Wegovy ,  Zepbound ,  Mounjaro ) starting 2026-2027 . The 5-year experiment requires participating plans to include structured diet/exercise coaching alongside medication . Current rules exclude weight loss drug coverage under Medicare, with limited Medicaid exceptions (13 states) . Annual costs per patient range $5,000-$7,000, projected Medicare spending could hit $35B by 2034 . Internal Trump administration conflict exists: CMS’s  Mehmet Oz  supports coverage, while HHS Secretary  Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  criticizes costs . The Policy Shift Hits Like a Diner Coffee at 3 AM Medicare, Medicaid plans to experiment with covering weight loss drugs The Trump administration...

Centene Q2 Loss Highlights Rising Costs Key Takeaways Centene posted a $253M Q2 loss , flipping from a $1.1B profit in 2024 . Medical cost ratio (MCR) surged to 93% , far exceeding Wall Street’s 89.3% forecast . Stock plunged 14.5%  premarket, hitting a decade low and dragging down peers Elevance Health and Molina Healthcare . Loss drivers : Medicaid behavioral/home health costs, ACA risk-adjustment revenue cuts, and high-cost drugs . Corrective action : Premium hikes for 2026 ACA plans in "substantial majority" of states . The Earnings Shock Centene bled red. $253 million vanished in Q2. Last year? A crisp $1.1 billion profit . Premium revenue climbed to $42.5 billion, up 18%, but medical costs devoured it . The street expected an $0.86 per share profit. Instead, Centene coughed up a $0.16 loss . Analysts stared at their screens. Julie Utterback at Morningstar called the 93% medical cost ratio "surprisingly high" . All business lines burned. The ACA marketplace? Th...

  Key Takeaways The Senate passed Trump’s megabill 51-50, with Vice President Vance breaking the tie after Republicans Collins, Tillis, and Paul defected over Medicaid cuts and deficit concerns . Tax changes:  Permanent extension of 2017 TCJA rates ($4 trillion cost), temporary deductions for tips ($25K cap), overtime ($12.5K cap), and car loan interest ($10K cap), plus a 5-year SALT deduction boost to $40K . Healthcare cuts:  $900B in Medicaid savings from work requirements and reduced provider taxes, projected to leave 11.8 million uninsured by 2034. Rural hospitals face closure risks despite a $50B temporary fund . Energy shifts:  Immediate end to EV tax credits, phaseout of wind/solar incentives by 2027, and new fossil fuel supports like classifying coal as a “critical mineral.” Analysts predict 10% higher electricity bills and 50% less new grid capacity . The bill faces House hurdles due to Freedom Caucus opposition to deficit spending ($3.3 trillion over 10 yea...