Health Care

Legislators, insurers wrestle with weight loss coverage

The popularity of pricey GLP-1 drugs has exploded in the past year.
The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

State lawmakers and regulators are grappling with how to balance the long-term potential and up-front cost of a blockbuster new class of drugs that promises to revolutionize obesity treatment.

Demand for glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists, or GLP-1 drugs, sold under brand names such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Monjaro has exploded in recent months, driven in part by celebrities and social media influencers.

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