Republican Gov. Jeff Landry made the right move for taxpayers when he vetoed a line in a bill that could have spiraled out of cost control because some active and retired state employees and public school teachers eat too much.
HB 463 was one of several money bills passed by the Legislature, this one being the annual ancillary expenses allotted to parts of state government spending from internal service or enterprise funds. He struck a single line item from it, that which would have compelled state employee coverage of semaglutide medication that can encourage weight loss as long as it didn’t cost the state money for the fiscal year.
Some took to social media to decry the decision not to cover drugs like Rybelus, Wegovy, and Ozempic. The Office of Group Benefits could have worked a deal from the manufacturers to allow for a free year’s worth, and with Louisiana having one of the highest obesity rates in the country, with that condition bringing all sorts of health problems this benefit could reduce health plan costs down the line which would translate soon into lower rates charged clients than would be otherwise.
