TennCare’s obesity medication coverage is a win for Tennesseans

TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, recently committed to covering the cost of semaglutide medications to aid with weight loss. (Photo: Getty Images)

n April 2024, I urged TennCare and the Tennessee Legislature to take obesity seriously. TennCare’s recent commitment to expanding coverage for obesity medications isn’t just a policy update: it is a lifeline for thousands of Tennesseans and a rare opportunity for our state to lead the nation in treating one of its most urgent health crises. 

I’ve struggled with obesity my entire life. I know the health challenges it brings, the stigma that comes with weight, the unsolicited comments from strangers, the scoldings from doctors who dismiss the complexity of this disease with “eat less and walk more” and the gimmick solutions advertised on TV. I’ve fought for my own care for as long as I can remember.  

As a past chair of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and proud Tennessean, I’ve spent more than a decade working alongside advocates, clinicians, and policymakers to recognize obesity as a chronic disease and change the way it is covered by insurance. This decision is a victory for Tennesseans living with obesity.  

Obesity affects more than 40% of adults in the U.S., yet far too often, treatment access depends on where you live or what insurance you have. At a time when several states are moving to cut their state’s coverage or have chosen to cut back Medicaid coverage for obesity care, Tennessee is expanding this critical coverage for obesity medications. There is overwhelming evidence that comprehensive treatment of obesity improves health outcomes and reduces long-term health care costs. Now, more people affected by the disease can access medications along with nutritional counseling, behavioral therapy, and surgery.

Tennessee Legislature can aid state’s obesity problem

By expanding access to FDA-approved obesity medications for Medicaid enrollees, TennCare’s actions clearly signal that we believe people living with obesity deserve evidence-based care, not judgment or denial. Obesity is a disease, one that deserves treatment – just like diabetes, heart disease or cancer. 

This is more than a win for Tennesseans; it’s a demonstration that state-level action can drive change even when federal policy progress is stagnant. Other states should examine Tennessee’s decision closely and ask: Why not us? To improve public health, reduce chronic disease, and create a more equitable healthcare system, expanding access to obesity care must be part of the solution.

Coverage decisions like this also help dismantle the stigma surrounding obesity and send the message that we know obesity is more than willpower, but a complex interplay of biology, environment, and genetics.

This change didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of persistent advocacy from people living with obesity, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations like OAC. 

TennCare’s action is a victory for patients and for the idea that every person deserves access to the care they need, and it should be just the beginning.