SEAN SPICER: Medication Can Be Affordable — Even Without Taxpayers Footing The Bill

The Trump administration is doubling down on its commitment to responsible federal spending. This month, the administration scrapped a Biden-era proposal to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include GLP-1 medications, like tirzepatide and semaglutide. It’s a move projected to save taxpayers $35 billion and a strong signal to big Pharma that the American people will not be signing them a blank check.

This move also opens the door to correcting another misstep — one that’s quietly undermining affordable access for the people who need these medications most. Biden’s FDA prematurely declared the shortage of some GLP-1 medications over, despite ongoing supply issues. The result? Bigger checks to Big Pharma for name-brand medications and millions of Americans who rely on compounded versions of these medications left in the lurch, wondering if they will be able to afford the costly commercial versions — or if they will even be able to find them. 

This provides the current administration a unique opportunity to simultaneously rein in excessive government spending while also safeguarding access to life-changing treatments. Truth is, limiting government spending without compromising public health is not just responsible, it’s necessary. (RELATED: RAW EGG NATIONALIST: Psychotropic Drugs May Be To Blame For Mass Shootings)

GLP-1 medications have been nothing short of transformative — not just for weight loss, but for the treatment of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. In fact, more than 12% of U.S. adults have used GLP-1s. Notably, of those adults, 62% use the medication to treat a chronic condition, like heart disease. Demand is growing rapidly, and for good reason — these drugs work. And, it’s often low-income and older Americans, the very individuals most vulnerable to these diseases, who benefit most. 

Let’s set the record straight: just because Biden’s FDA claimed the shortage was over, does not change reality. It has not ended. And you don’t need to take my word for it – just call your local pharmacy and ask if they have Zepbound or Mounjaro. Now patients are stuck with sky-rocketing price tags on medications that insurance rarely covers. To put it in perspective, a drug that may cost $99 a month compounded, costs $1,000 or more each month for the Big Pharma name-brand versions. With 54% of all adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs already saying the medication was difficult to afford, a ten-fold increase in cost would be simply devastating. 

Reality is, this is not just about dollars — it’s about preventing a public health crisis. However, the Trump administration is correct that doling out billions to Big Pharma by adding GLP-1s to Medicare and Medicaid is not the answer.

We should applaud the current administration for continuing to protect our taxpayer money, but responsible spending and public access to care don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand-in-hand. Failing to provide access to affordable GLP-1s will undoubtedly drive-up long-term healthcare costs. These are not gimmicky weight-loss medications. They are real treatments that reduce risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disorders and more — conditions that can lead to life-altering and costly disabilities. Simply put, by ignoring access, we risk trading today’s savings for tomorrow’s expenses.

President Trump’s decision to let taxpayers off the hook is the right one. Now, the administration should jump at the opportunity to go further. We need to recognize the barriers to access and restore pathways to compounded GLP-1s. These medications can — and should — remain available as a lower-cost alternative for the millions who need them. (RELATED: MIKE BURGESS: Beware Of Fake Ozempic-Style Drugs)

The FDA has a responsibility to protect public health. That includes ensuring medications are safe — but also accessible. Ending access to compounded alternatives while commercial options remain unaffordable helps no one except the pharmaceutical giants.

Let’s not lose sight of what matters most. Saving $35 billion is smart policy. But saving $35 billion in the near-term, ensuring Americans can still access medications they need and protecting future dollars in the process? That’s even smarter. 

Sean Spicer served as the 30th White House press secretary and is the host of The Sean Spicer Show.