California Targets Ozempic Costs | Fresno News

California is tackling the skyrocketing cost of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy with a bold new bill, Senate Bill 1089, backed by a state senator who personally pays $450 a month for a similar medication. The legislation seeks to leverage California’s CalRx program — already used successfully for insulin — to negotiate lower prices with drugmakers. While Medi-Cal recently halted coverage for obesity treatment using these drugs due to soaring costs, they remain available for diabetes patients. With prescription numbers exploding and insurers spending hundreds of millions annually, affordability remains a major hurdle — even for insured Californians. Though these medications offer powerful health benefits, including preventing diabetes and heart disease, insurers balk at the upfront expense. Experts argue long-term savings could offset initial costs, but those benefits take time to materialize. Meanwhile, patients are turning to unregulated compounded versions of the drugs, raising safety concerns as poison center calls and adverse effects rise. Still, advocates remain hopeful that collaboration with manufacturers and innovative pricing models can unlock wider access to these life-changing treatments. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/37e0cef8376c0b42