<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2gHDmE_1DIUpEFY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2gHDmE_1DIUpEFY00" width="1600" height="900" ><figcaption>Obesity care panel at Southern Legislative Conference highlights Medicaid access challenges (WKYT)</figcaption></figure><p>LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Eli Lilly, GlobalData and the Kentucky Medical Association held a panel discussion Tuesday at the Central Bank Center during the Southern Legislative Conference, focusing on the future of obesity care in Kentucky.</p><h2>Medicaid access a key barrier</h2><p>Cory Meadows, deputy executive vice president of the Kentucky Medical Association, said obesity requires the same attention as other chronic conditions.</p><p>“Obesity is a serious chronic condition and it needs to be treated as such,” Meadows said.</p><p>Meadows said treatment begins with a conversation between a patient and their physician, but access to care remains a significant obstacle for many Kentuckians. He said Kentucky ranks seventh in the nation for obesity, and hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians on Medicaid are living with the disease.</p><p>“We have a higher Medicaid population. And so that being the case, those who could most benefit from the drugs are having a hard time getting access to that drug. So access is very important,” Meadows said.</p><h2>Federal Balance Initiative</h2><p>Meadows said a federal program could help address the cost barrier.</p><p>“Currently the federal government is offering a program called the Balance Initiative, which allows states to obtain GLP-1 drugs and anti-obesity drugs at a much lower cost. Because you know the debate is usually about how expensive these drugs are,” Meadows said.</p><p>Shawn O’Neail of Eli Lilly, which manufactures some GLP-1 medications on the market, said the Balance Model is designed to pair GLP-1 medications with lifestyle and nutrition support.</p><p>“The Balance Model provides predictability for states who want to bring Medicaid into accessing obesity medicines, and it provides an entry point for GLP-1s at $245,” O’Neail said.</p><h2>Shifting how society views obesity</h2><p>Tim Dall, executive director of GlobalData, said public perception of obesity is part of the challenge.</p><p>“Many associations like the American Medical Association and others are calling for obesity to be treated like other diseases, but yet many people still view it as a lifestyle choice as opposed to a disease,” Dall said.</p><p>The Southern Legislative Conference continues through Wednesday.</p></div></body>

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Eli Lilly, GlobalData and the Kentucky Medical Association held a panel discussion Tuesday at the Central Bank Center during the Southern Legislative Conference, focusing on the future of obesity care in Kentucky. Medicaid access a key barrier. Cory Meadows, deputy executive vice president of the Kentucky...

Obesity care panel highlights Medicaid access challenges

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Eli Lilly, GlobalData and the Kentucky Medical Association held a panel discussion Tuesday at the Central Bank Center during the So

Obesity care panel highlights Medicaid access challenges

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