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Ozempic mania’s billions in bills are coming for U.S. taxpayers
The Spokesman-Review ^ | 1/5/24 | Simone Foxman and Laura Nahmias

Posted on 05/22/2024 11:46:24 AM PDT by DallasBiff

State and local governments across the US are grappling with a growing problem: Expensive drugs to treat diabetes and obesity are threatening to drain their health-care budgets.

State health plans and Medicaid offices are seeing eye-popping bills for Novo Nordisk A/S’s Ozempic, its sister drug Wegovy and similar medications known as GLP-1s. They’re a breakthrough for treating two of the most complex chronic health conditions. But with list prices stretching above $1,000 a month, the costs threaten to empty government coffers.

“It’s not sustainable,” North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell, who oversees state workers’ health insurance, lamented at a recent board meeting. “It’ll sink the plan.”

He isn’t the only official warning about the exploding costs. Connecticut imposed new hurdles for state employees seeking weight-loss treatment in July, after spending on the drugs rose 50% annually since 2020. Virginia tightened criteria for Medicaid enrollees seeking GLP-1s to treat obesity in June. An official in Delaware warned of a surge in Medicaid claims for the drugs since March and said the state may need to implement cost controls.

(Excerpt) Read more at spokesman.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: bigpharma; ozempic
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Big Pharma in action.

Heck I lost 50 lbs. by quitting sugar carbonated soft drinks, also non-sugar carbonated soft drinks, just stuck with water and juice.

1 posted on 05/22/2024 11:46:24 AM PDT by DallasBiff
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To: DallasBiff

Maybe it’s the crap they are putting in their piehole that’s making them FAT...

Demolishing Lies On Low Carb Eating *

https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=231343


2 posted on 05/22/2024 11:49:33 AM PDT by eyeamok
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To: DallasBiff

They had no problem doling out millions for the fake vaccines................


3 posted on 05/22/2024 11:51:25 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: eyeamok

Thanks for posting that link.

It’s dead-on accurate.


4 posted on 05/22/2024 11:53:51 AM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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To: DallasBiff

If it is effective Medicare shouldn’t approve it otherwise they will go bankrupt sooner.


5 posted on 05/22/2024 11:54:09 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives: Ban Gun Free Zones)
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To: eyeamok

Bkmk


6 posted on 05/22/2024 11:58:59 AM PDT by sauropod ("This is a time when people reveal themselves for who they are." James O'Keefe Ne supra crepidam)
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To: DallasBiff

So I got to pay for some fatty to get a shot instead of them buying a gym membership?

That’s fair.


7 posted on 05/22/2024 11:59:20 AM PDT by WarANDPiece
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To: DallasBiff

Nah, it can’t be so easy.

It’s got to be hard and take all kinds of pharma pocket lining expensive meds to let people continue their destructive lifestyles.


8 posted on 05/22/2024 12:11:26 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: DallasBiff

I thought being fat was all the rage now?


9 posted on 05/22/2024 12:18:57 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: subterfuge
I thought being fat was all the rage now?

I know, I can't keep up either. Weren't we celebrating Lizzo's fat?

10 posted on 05/22/2024 12:22:21 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: eyeamok

Low carbs is the best way to lose weight hands down. I lost 50lbs. That was 5 years ago and am still down. The best is you can cheat and just go back to low carbs without missing a beat.


11 posted on 05/22/2024 12:29:32 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Brandon's pronouns: Xi/Hur)
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To: eyeamok

That’s excellent. Thank you for the link.


12 posted on 05/22/2024 12:30:14 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: DallasBiff

““It’s not sustainable,” North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell, who oversees state workers’ health insurance, lamented at a recent board meeting. “It’ll sink the plan.””

Tell them it’s for Ukrainians, moslems and Mexicans.


13 posted on 05/22/2024 12:44:29 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
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To: HYPOCRACY

I don’t follow it like I should, because, well I really like chocolate and ice cream as well as red wine. I have been pereptually overweight 10 pounds since I met my wife 20 years ago this week. She cooks and makes our food daily, left by myself, I just won’t eat and can easily lose the 10 pounds extra in 2 weeks if she wasn’t around.


14 posted on 05/22/2024 12:54:58 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: eyeamok

So many fallacies. What pure garbage - the first major one being an attempt to suggest that 100% whole wheat bread doesn’t contain fiber naturally, but it is somehow artificially added back.

Also seems to be lacking a basic knowledge of ATP generation via glucose.

Many other points that get tiresome to address.

I just fall back on my my main response whenever someone starts getting all preachy about carbs to me - I just say, “look at me, look at you”, and that usually shuts them right up.


15 posted on 05/22/2024 12:55:02 PM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy “)
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To: eyeamok

My wife called me fat. That made me lose weight.


16 posted on 05/22/2024 1:04:06 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Brandon's pronouns: Xi/Hur)
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To: DallasBiff

Aside from a pepsi or coke after lunch during high school, for me soft drinks had been the exception, until I got married at 24. I was only drinking soda pop when out somewhere. Marriage kept me home, so it became something I only drank when at a special gathering.

Energy drinks?.... never had one. But I know people that are addicted to them.

Most heavy people simply don’t have physically demanding jobs, yet continue to eat and drink like they do.


17 posted on 05/22/2024 1:08:46 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: HYPOCRACY

**My wife called me fat. That made me lose weight.**

The fact that my 67 year old wife has kept (with the exceptions of two pregnancies) her lovely hourglass figure, I have continued to stay trim as well.


18 posted on 05/22/2024 1:15:10 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: Red Badger

I should think that if people(and including Medicare)would refuse to pay these ridiculous prices that they would come down.


19 posted on 05/22/2024 1:16:17 PM PDT by oldtech
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To: DallasBiff

Maybe pharmaceutical companies shouldn’t charge so much. I was on mounjaro, A cousin to ozempic. Worked great -— lost 25# and had great diabetes control. But I got tired of spending $500+ every month, after insurance. When my doctor decided to change the clinic to concierge and shuffle to nurse practitioners,those who didn’t want to spend thousands a year for the pleasure, I switched to a community clinic in my town. Yes, I see a nurse practioner, but they always get me in the same day, and they accept Medicare assignment -— $35 a visit, including labs! And they have some sort of deal with the government or the pharmaceutical company, to supply Victoza injections for $18/month. It’s a cousin to mounjaro, and is not quite as good as mounjaro for weight loss, but keeps my diabetes in check. Before I used that, I went back to metformin, 500 mg/day plus berberine supplement, 1-3 x day. a1c 6.5, blood sugars less than 100 fasting and 2hr post prandial. Even the berberine did help reduce my appetite, but I’m a great cheater, and it still controlled my bs.


20 posted on 05/22/2024 1:30:28 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing)
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