Spearheaded by the Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease, the Call for CMS Action Comes As New Report Lays Out What’s at Stake for Communities of Color, Asserts that “Clock Is Ticking” For Action on Obesity

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the inaugural and historic CMS Health Equity Conference kicks off today, 30 of the nation’s most prominent health equity leaders and obesity advocates are calling on CMS to take immediate actions to expand access to comprehensive obesity care for communities of color being disproportionately impacted by the epidemic — and to use this week’s conference as a springboard for charting a new path on obesity policy. The call for action comes in a letter sent to CMS leaders, spearheaded by the Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease, which also released a new report today outlining what’s at stake for communities of color — making the case that the “clock is ticking” and “now is the time to change policies” to provide comprehensive care and revolutionary treatments for individuals suffering from the disease of obesity. 

The Coalition is made up of some of the nation’s most prominent, respected leaders in civil rights, equity, and health care, including organizations like NAACP, Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, and the National Hispanic Medical Association. 

In the letter — sent to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure (CMS Administrator) and Dr. LaShawn McIver (Director of CMS’s Office of Minority Health) — the groups assert:

“Millions of Black and Brown Americans are disproportionately impacted by the growing obesity epidemic … We believe, as you do, that the need for health equity is urgent. Which is why we are urging CMS leaders to ensure that this week’s conference positions the obesity epidemic as a major focal point for discussion and future collaboration — including examining how CMS can expand access to the full continuum of obesity care and treatment for communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic.” 

The organizations urged CMS to prioritize immediate actions, including expanding Medicare coverage to include anti-obesity medications. 

“We urge CMS leaders to take advantage of opportunities the conference presents to examine immediate actions that can begin to turn the tide for communities of color and other marginalized communities — such as ensuring coverage for breakthrough anti-obesity medications (AOMs) in Medicare. The current lack of access is the result of discriminatory rules rooted in outdated and dangerous stigmas. We believe opening up access to AOMs is within your authority and would represent a major step forward in addressing and dismantling existing health disparities and inequities.” 

Obesity Rates Surging in Communities of Color

The letter (full text found below), and the newly released coalition report (Advancing Equity: The Urgent Need to Confront Disparities in Obesity) comes at a moment when obesity rates are surging within communities of color, with rates at nearly 50% among Black and Latino adults — far outpacing rates experienced by white Americans. According to the report, “Non-Hispanic Black adults have the highest prevalence of obesity compared with all other racial groups. Approximately four out of every five African American women have obesity.”

The report further asserts that disparate access to care is having a profound effect on at-risk communities, especially communities of color. 

“Providers are increasingly pointing out the access chasm and the impact that has on the overall health of under-resourced communities. Currently, the disease of obesity is tragically undertreated. Of the millions of Americans of all ages suffering from obesity, studies have shown less than 2% of those eligible for anti-obesity drugs are prescribed anti-obesity medicine, similarly, less than 1% of eligible patients ever get bariatric surgery. Road-blocks to care include gaps in health care coverage and access, stigma and bias, and the costs of care.”

The report calls for both legislative and executive actions to advance equitable access to treatments, and lays out four recommendations including:

1. People living with obesity should have access to evidence-informed interventions, including intensive behavioral counseling, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Medicare’s efforts to expand nutrition and behavioral counseling should be accelerated,
   without a requirement of comorbidities, and fully funded. Medicare’s prohibition on coverage of AOMs must be removed. Private insurers should fully cover obesity care. 

2. Physicians should be educated to remove bias about people living with obesity, and to screen and treat obesity.

3. Food and nutrition insecurity must be eliminated. Not only should the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program be protected and expanded, but innovative programs that expand access to healthy fruits and vegetables, and provide nutritional education through the medical home should be expanded.

4. The widespread stigmatization of people living with obesity must end. Obesity interventions should be culturally relevant and account for social determinants of health.

Letter Sent to CMS by 30 National Health Equity Leaders & Obesity Advocates:

Learn more about the Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease at www.HealthEquityAction.org. For media requests, please contact Sanjali De Silva at Sanjali@precisionstrategies.com.