1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

The proposed Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to Medicare programs present an essential opportunity to address critical healthcare inequities. One such priority is the inclusion of GLP-1 medications in Medicare coverage. GLP-1 medications are increasingly recognized as a standard of care for certain conditions and their accessibility should not be dictated by whether someone is on Medicare or private insurance. Currently, the cost of these medications in the United States far exceeds that of other comparable nations. Expanding Medicare to include these medications would not only provide essential care to millions of Americans but also set a precedent for broader accessibility and fairness in healthcare costs across all insurance types. Bridging this gap is a vital step toward making the U.S. healthcare system equitable and cost-effective for all citizens.