Novo Nordisk fights to keep Medicaid paying for weight

By Dan Levine and Chad Terhune

(Reuters) -Novo Nordisk, which lobbied to win Medicaid reimbursement for its obesity drug Wegovy, is fighting to keep that coverage as some U.S. states struggle with the treatment’s costs, according to state documents, company emails and interviews with lawmakers and advocates.

Novo’s lobbying efforts helped to convince 14 U.S. states to cover Wegovy for low-income patients under their Medicaid health insurance programs. The Danish drugmaker argued that governments would save money on healthcare as more Americans lose weight and reduce their risk of diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.

Instead, several states found their spending surged due to Wegovy’s cost and widespread demand. California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have said t