April 24, 2026

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Health equity leaders across Maryland are applauding the Maryland General Assembly for passing the Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity – Authorization (SB0496/HB0813). The bill — which now heads to Governor Wes Moore’s desk for his signature — would authorize the Maryland Medicaid program to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, including FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for chronic weight management. With nearly 1-in-4 Marylanders relying on Medicaid for their health care, and the state’s obesity rate predicted to impact 1-in-2 residents by 2030, this legislation represents a significant step toward closing a long-standing gap in equitable access to critical care.

The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease (HECCD) issued the following statement following passage of the watershed legislation: 

“The Maryland General Assembly’s passage of the Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity – Authorization is a watershed moment for health equity in our state. Obesity is a complex, chronic disease. Marylanders enrolled in Medicaid have been denied access to the full range of evidence-based treatments available to others, but thankfully this bill creates a pathway to change that. By authorizing coverage of FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, this legislation has the potential to improve health outcomes, advance health equity, and reduce long-term healthcare costs. We urge Governor Moore to act swiftly and sign this bill into law, so that thousands of Maryland residents impacted by chronic diseases like obesity can finally access the care they need and deserve.”

Advocacy in Support of the “Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity – Authorization” 

HECCD has been a consistent and vocal advocate for both SB0496 and HB0813 throughout the Maryland legislative process. Earlier this session, HECCD submitted written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee urging the “swift passage” of SB0496, arguing that expanding coverage of evidence-based obesity treatments “represents a critical step toward improving health outcomes and closing long-standing gaps in care.” HECCD has continued to elevate the legislation publicly, mobilizing its partner organizations and network of advocates across the state in support of the bill.

Maryland’s Medicaid program currently does not cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), leaving hundreds of thousands of low-income patients without access to treatments that are widely available to those with private insurance — and clinically proven to treat obesity. If signed by Governor Moore, this legislation would position Maryland to close longstanding coverage gaps and reflect the modern scientific consensus that obesity is a chronic disease requiring comprehensive and sustained treatment, positioning Maryland as a national leader in health equity.

Obesity’s Toll on Maryland

In Maryland, the obesity rate is predicted to rise to 50% statewide by 2030. Notably, obesity-related health care expenses in Maryland are estimated to reach nearly $30.54 billion annually, or nearly half of the state’s FY 2026 budget ($67.3 billion). This comes as Maryland is facing its worst fiscal crisis in two decades, including a $3 billion budget gap. By expanding Medicaid coverage, Maryland can improve state finances and ensure patients have access to the full range of evidence-based obesity treatments that can change the trajectory of their health and their lives.

Obesity’s Toll on Americans
Obesity is a costly epidemic that takes a $170 billion toll on our nation annually, and it’s getting worse: An estimated 42% of American adults are currently living with obesity and some studies estimate that more than half of Americans will be living with obesity by 2030. Despite it being designated a chronic disease for well over a decade, obesity is treated differently by Medicare and Medicaid, which do not provide the clinical standard of care that millions of Americans deserve. Treatment professionals should have every tool in the toolbox — from intensive behavioral therapy around diet and exercise and medication treatment or surgery as appropriate — to improve the health of older Americans living with obesity.