(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

It is hard to believe that nearly a quarter of West Virginia’s residents are enrolled in Medicare. But when you realize that West Virginia is one of the oldest states in the nation, that number starts to make sense. Compare that to the 19% of the total U.S. population enrolled in Medicare, that number stands out even more.

West Virginia also has the highest obesity rate in the nation, a title it has carried for several years. Research shows obesity increases the risk of serious medical conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers. While diet and exercise are tools that can aid in weight reduction, the results and needs of individuals can vary. This is because obesity can stem from multiple environmental, biological, and genetic factors, not just lifestyle habits. For senior citizens living with other health conditions or mobility challenges, diet and exercise may not produce the desired results.

With the help of anti-obesity medications (AOMS), seniors living with obesity could receive assistance toward achieving their weight loss goals while improving their health. The issue is that many of these medications are newly developed and were not included under the original Part D coverage.

Exclusion of AOMs from Medicare coverage means the cost of these medications is an expense many seniors cannot afford. Even though medical understanding of obesity as a chronic disease has grown in recent decades, Medicare has still not been updated to include anti-obesity treatments. This makes AOMs inaccessible to the 40% of American seniors living with obesity.

The passage of The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) (H.R. 4818 and S. 2407) would update Medicare Part D to include FDA-approved AOMs and intensive behavior therapy, giving seniors living with obesity affordable access to clinically effective treatments that can help improve their lives.

The TROA has bipartisan support and with more than half of Medicare beneficiaries being treated for five or more chronic conditions each year, it makes sense to update Part D to include obesity treatment coverage.

Updating Medicare Part D to include coverage for comprehensive obesity treatment is the first step in helping reduce the impact obesity is making across America. As a county director of senior services in the state with the highest obesity rating, I urge leadership in Washington to swiftly pass the TROA. Congresswoman Carol Miller and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito continue to support the benefits this bill will provide. Thousands of West Virginians and millions of Americans are waiting to have improved access to obesity treatments that positively impact their lives.

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Billie Ashley is director of the Wirt County Committee on Aging, which provides thousands of meals, in-home care hours, transportation trips and other services to senior citizens and disabled persons each year.