The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) and Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) today celebrated the progress made in the Texas House of Representatives this session in advancing understanding about the need to address obesity and its impact on the long-term health of the state.
House Bill 2677, sponsored by Rep. Senfronia Thompson and co-sponsored by Rep. John Bucy III, would have provided Medicaid coverage for comprehensive treatment for people with obesity. Though
HB 2677 cleared the House Public Health Committee with bipartisan support and no registered opposition and was scheduled for a vote by the full House on May 14, the legislation ultimately languished in the logjam of bills that perished when the House hit its deadline moments before midnight on May 15.
“Though we certainly would have loved to see this bill become law, the fact that HB 2677 advanced to the House floor should still be considered a victory for public health,” said Leah Whigham, PhD, of Austin, who is a nutrition expert and volunteer advocate for the ADA. “It shows that treating obesity and preventing future chronic diseases matters to Texans and their elected representatives. We are heartened by the progress made this session, and we look forward to continuing this important work in the months ahead.”
HB 2677 proposed that Medicaid recipients would have access to:
- Intensive behavioral and lifestyle interventions for weight management
- FDA-approved anti-obesity medications
- Metabolic and bariatric surgeries endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recognized diabetes prevention programs aimed at delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes
The legislation would have enabled access to life-changing treatments and created significant cost savings for the state and employers, according to the ADA and OAC.
By treating obesity, patients are less likely to develop subsequent conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer, all of which are costly to treat. A recent study by Global Data found obesity is responsible for $928.6 million annually in higher Medicaid spending and reduces annual tax revenue by $821 million due to lost economic activity. Today, there are nearly 300,000 fewer Texans participating in the labor force due to the disease.
“As a Texan impacted by obesity, I know how frustrating it is to face barriers to care that could greatly improve health and quality of life,” said Kesha Calicutt, of Cedar Hill, who is an OAC board member. “The progress on HB 2677 shows our voices are being heard, and I’m hopeful that the groundwork laid by advocates and the Texas Legislature will lead to expanded access to comprehensive obesity care.”
The ADA, OAC, and a coalition of organizations including the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Texas Kidney Foundation, Texas Renal Coalition, San Antonio Obesity Society, Alliance for Patient Access, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Arthritis Foundation, Obesity Medicine Association, The Obesity Society, and Texans for Obesity Treatment Access, will continue to work with state policymakers to develop a path forward for Medicaid coverage of comprehensive obesity treatment.
“We are grateful to Reps. Thompson and Bucy for their leadership and to so many others in the Texas House for recognizing the importance of prevention in health care,” said Dr. Whigham. “We remain dedicated to championing the needs of people affected by obesity and look forward to working with legislators and Medicaid officials to develop a fiscally sound and forward-looking solution to addressing the disease of obesity.”
For media inquiries, please contact Mimi Carmody at press@diabetes.org or Mckinzie Burrows at mburrows@obesityaction.org.
###
About the Obesity Action Coalition
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support. To learn more about our work, visit www.obesityaction.org.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure —and we’re not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
