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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens
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LULAC Applauds Reintroduction of Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to Expand Access
for Older Americans
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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest and largest
Latino civil rights organization dedicated to engaging and empowering Latinos on
critical issues such as healthcare access, joins other leading organizations in
applauding the reintroduction of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) in the
119th Congress. This legislation aims to improve obesity care for older
Americans, especially those in vulnerable communities.
On April 4, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to
cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), including GLP-1s, as a “medically
necessary” treatment for obesity under Medicare Part D. On Thursday, June 5,
LULAC joined other advocates in supporting TROA—a critical step toward expanding
coverage for intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) and allowing Medicare Part D to
cover FDA-approved AOMs, including GLP-1s.
Introduced in the Senate by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ben Ray Luján
(D-NM), TROA would ensure Medicare beneficiaries have improved access to
life-changing obesity treatments. In the House, Rep. Raúl Ruiz (D-CA) is the lead
Democratic sponsor and is teaming up with Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) as a bipartisan
cosponsor, reflecting broad support for this essential legislation.
Obesity impacts 41.9% of U.S. adults and remains a leading chronic disease
affecting millions of Latino families nationwide. According to the CDC (2023),
Latino adults are disproportionately affected, with 45.6% meeting obesity
criteria. Furthermore, the CDC’s National Survey of Children’s Health (2022)
reports that 25.8% of Latino children ages 2–19 have obesity—significantly higher
than the 15.5% rate among their non-Latino white peers. These disparities
contribute to severe health inequities and increase risks for related conditions
such as diabetes and heart disease.
LULAC National President Roman Palomares stated, “TROA is a vital chance to
remove the hurdles blocking older adults from getting the obesity care they need.
Access to medications like GLP-1s isn’t just about medicine—it’s about fairness
and respect for our community. LULAC played a key role in securing dozens of
cosponsors for TROA in the last Congress, and we’re fully committed to making
that happen again.”
Dr. Ray Serrano, LULAC’s National Director of Research and Policy, added,
“Failing to provide coverage for obesity treatments today means that Latino
families—who already face so many challenges—will end up paying a much heavier
price down the road. The financial strain and human suffering from inaction are
real and deeply troubling. That’s why passing TROA isn’t just about health; it’s
about protecting the futures of our communities and giving the most vulnerable in
our community a fighting chance.”
LULAC remains committed to advancing healthcare equity and applauds Congress for
taking meaningful steps to improve obesity treatment access for all Medicare
beneficiaries.
For questions or follow-up, please contact Dr. Ray Serrano, National Director of
Research and Policy, at
[email protected] [ mailto:
[email protected] ] .
# # #
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and
largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to
advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy,
community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide,
LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of
Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about
LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .
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