BOSTON, Mass. — Human rights activist and philanthropist Martin Luther King III joined elected officials, obesity advocates, patients, and providers at the Massachusetts State House today for a press conference organized by the Massachusetts Coalition for Action on Obesity (MCAO), calling for equitable access to obesity care for every patient in the Commonwealth. Leaders of the Health Equity Coalition on Chronic Disease (HECCD) applauded the group for their efforts in drawing attention to this critical issue and pledged to stand with them as they work to address obesity and the chronic diseases it drives in Massachusetts and across the country.
“When patients are on effective treatment and lose coverage, the progress they've made is at risk, and the costs often show up later in more serious and more expensive care. HECCD applauds MCAO for bringing this conversation to the State House and will keep working alongside patients, providers, and leaders to make sure obesity care is within reach for all.”
Speakers shared personal and professional experiences, described the persistent barriers that keep many Massachusetts residents from the care they need, including access to obesity medications, and stressed the importance of treating obesity as a serious chronic disease. The event comes as obesity remains a pressing challenge in the Commonwealth, one that falls hardest on Black and Latino residents. Roughly 36% of Black adults and 33% of Latino adults in Massachusetts live with obesity.
Earlier this year, the board of the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission, or GIC, voted to drop coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight loss as part of an effort to find about $100 million in savings. The GIC insures roughly 460,000 state and municipal workers, retirees, and their families, and about 22,000 of them were taking GLP-1s for weight loss. Separately, Governor Healey's FY2027 budget proposal eliminated MassHealth coverage of these medications for weight loss, a change expected to affect at least 22,000 members and projected to save about $15 million annually. Both cuts took effect July 1, 2026. The savings on paper do not tell the full story. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers. Many residents who lost coverage are likely to face worsening health and more costly care down the line, costs that the same public programs will ultimately pay.
“Obesity is a chronic disease. Treating it is a serious health access issue. When patients lose coverage for treatment, access gaps grow wider,” said the American Diabetes Association in a post-event social post. “We stand alongside stakeholders and advocates to discuss obesity care in Massachusetts.”
Speakers called on state leaders and the broader community to work to ensure that every patient can access the high-quality treatment they need. HECCD will continue to support these efforts in the hope that all Massachusetts residents can get access to the care they need and deserve.
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The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease (HECCD) believes that all people deserve the best possible health care. Continuing to allow outdated coverage policies to restrict access for communities dependent on public programs is counter to the principles of health equity. The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease’s mission is to ensure that community experts, policy makers, providers, and other stakeholders work together to eliminate barriers to healthcare for rural communities, seniors, and communities of color, especially as related to access to care and treatment for obesity.
