POLITICS
Indiana to help cover weight loss drug costs for eligible Hoosiers on Medicaid
Marissa MeadorIndianapolis Star
July 30, 2026, 1:27 p.m. ET
Hoosiers on Medicaid could soon get enhanced access to weight loss drugs under a federal agreement with pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly and Company
Gov. Mike Braun announced July 30 that he’s directing the Family and Social Services Administration to take part in the federal government’s BALANCE demonstration
BALANCE, which stands for Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (sic), aims to reduce obesity among Medicaid recipients by negotiating GLP-1 pricing with drug manufacturers
Under the agreement, manufacturers would provide GLP-1s to Indiana’s Medicaid program for $245 per person per month. Indiana’s share of that would be $85 per person per month, the governor said in a news release, with the federal government covering the rest. The drugs would be available for “eligible Indiana Medicaid members living with obesity.”
“Indiana is proud to expand access to essential treatment for eligible Hoosiers,” Braun said in the news release. “This agreement reflects our commitment to Make Indiana Healthy Again by pursuing practical solutions that increase healthier lives.”
A 2024 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 38% of Indiana adults were obese, according to self-reported weight and height
The decision was lauded by leaders for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, both GLP-1 drug manufacturers with Indiana ties, in the governor’s news release
More details on eligibility and an implementation timeline will be available when the agreement is completed, according to the news release
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Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador
