This week, Governor Jared Polis signed the Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act (SB25-048) into law, taking historic steps to provide coverage for obesity treatment and interventions for Coloradans on large group health insurance plans.
The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) applauds Governor Jared Polis, advocates, and legislative sponsors Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Representative Kyle Brown, and Representative Javier Mabrey. The ADA also thanks the Colorado General Assembly, volunteers, and health professionals across Colorado for making historic progress in the fight to end obesity.
Nearly a quarter of Colorado adults have obesity, which is over one million people. Nationwide, nearly 15 million children and adolescents are living with obesity. Obesity accounts for to up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes and obesity are main drivers of disease and early mortality, putting people at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney and liver disease, certain types of cancer, and premature death.
This landmark legislation:
- Requires large group health insurance plans to provide coverage for the treatment of obesity and prediabetes by including coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), medical nutrition therapy, intensive behavioral and lifestyle therapies, and expanding eligibility for bariatric surgery, by aligning with national guidelines.
- Requires carriers of these plans to offer employers the option to add coverage of FDA-approved weight management medications, including at least one GLP-1 RA.
“This important legislation will fill gaps in access to care for the treatment of obesity, and it will help curb the tide of the obesity epidemic here in Colorado. I am grateful to our governor and bill sponsors for supporting such crucial legislation and am excited that Colorado continues to support the health and wellbeing of its residents,” said Christine Fallabel, the ADA’s Colorado director of state government affairs and advocacy.
While further action to address the obesity epidemic is needed, this expanded private insurance coverage will make it much easier for the many Coloradans currently living with obesity to access the care and evidence-based treatment needed to live happier, healthier lives.
Colorado has long been a leader in expanding access to affordable and high-quality health care. We applaud Governor Polis and the Colorado General Assembly for taking this important step forward to expand access to evidence-based obesity treatments and interventions in our state.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure—and we’re not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
