Fetterman writes column on importance of weight loss drugs

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman says there is a drug on the market that has changed his life: Mounjaro.

The drug, generally prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss, has also been touted for its heart health benefits. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May 2022.

In a New York Times opinion column published Tuesday, he wrote about the change Mounjaro has made in his life. He lamented that the drug and drugs of its kind aren’t always affordable for the general public.

“Even though I started taking it for my heart health, I’ve been struck by how much better it has made me feel across the board. It’s made a significant impact on my overall health,” wrote Fetterman, a Democrat who lives in Braddock. “Aches, pains and stiffness have vanished. Physically, I feel a decade younger, clearer-headed, and more optimistic than I’ve been in years.”

He continued: “The Trump administration recently nixed a rule proposed by President Joe Biden that would have made it easier for 7.4 million Americans to afford antiobesity medications called GLP-1s. This was a mistake. These drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can be a game changer.”

Fetterman says he has lost 20 pounds and is not being paid for discussing his treatment.

“I’m just a guy who has benefited from these medications and wants to make sure that anyone else who could benefit from them can access them, too,” he wrote. “Without insurance coverage, drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are prohibitively expensive — up to $1,000 every month. Currently, Medicare covers these drugs only under specific circumstances, such as for diabetes or heightened heart risk. And Medicaid coverage is even more limited.”

Click here to read the entire column.