<h1>States Wrestle with Skyrocketing Weight-Loss Drug Costs, Seeking Balance Between Patient Care and Budget Sustainability</h1> State Medicaid programs are grappling with escalating costs of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. Medication expenses have surged from $577.3 million in 2019 to $3.9 billion in 2023, with prescription rates increasing over 400%. Some states are considering restricting coverage, implementing prescribing limits, or requiring patients to meet specific body-mass index criteria before accessing these expensive treatments. The debate centers on balancing healthcare needs with budgetary constraints, as obesity affects approximately 40% of US adults.