09.10.2024 | News
What HCP online conversations reveal about their priorities: The HCP voice on the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA)
Key Takeaways:
- In our analysis, we’ve uncovered 3 key moments of discussion around TROA since July 21st, 2021, particularly following amendments this past June by the US House Ways and Means Committee, a body in the U.S. House of Representatives responsible for shaping fiscal and social legislation.
- HCPs’ advocacy for TROA revealed their dedication to patient health and equitable access to treatments.
- Social media plays a crucial role in amplifying the HCP message and mobilising support for legislative change.
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have increasingly voiced concerns online about the barriers their patients face in accessing obesity treatments such as restrictive insurance coverage, medication shortages, and obesity stigma. These discussions have gained momentum, especially as new drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide have entered the market.
Despite advancements in obesity treatment, securing access to medicines remains a challenge, according to HCPs. As Physician Nisha Patel noted, “One of the biggest barriers to providing high-quality care… is the sheer amount of time & resources it takes to fight insurance companies to approve medications.” Hence, through social media, HCPs are calling for reforms to improve access to comprehensive obesity care and treatment.
Central to their advocacy is the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), “a bipartisan bill in the US aimed at expanding Medicare access to obesity treatments, including FDA-approved medications and intensive behavioural therapy (IBT)”. By tracking HCP online conversations through CREATION Pinpoint®, we found that 13% of the 6,068 mentions about obesity treatment accessibility on X focused on TROA and its potential impact on improving patient access.
TROA HCP online conversations on X
We’ve uncovered 3 key moments of discussion around TROA shown in the graph below:
- HCPs campaign for attention to be drawn to TROA.
- TROA is reintroduced in Congress, HCPs look forward with anticipation to the outcome.
- HCPs celebrate the TROA amendment by the House Ways and Means Committee.
A. HCPs campaign for attention to be drawn to TROA
Between 2021 and 2022, HCPs turned to social media to raise awareness about the need for better access to obesity treatments and to combat the stigma surrounding the disease. 100 HCPs highlighted the growing impact of obesity on public health and the lack of prioritisation and Medicare coverage for effective treatments. This frustration fueled their advocacy for TROA, urging Congress to pass the bill.
Medicare stigmatizes obesity and fails to treat it as the disease it is. We can change that. Join me in signing @ObesityAdvocacy's petition to ask Congress to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act for #ObesityCareNow! https://t.co/yHZYtzHbqM
— Nina Crowley PhD RDN (@PsychoDietitian) November 4, 2021
Medicare does not cover any of the 5 FDA-approved obesity medications. Why?
In our op-ed, we discuss how obesity hurts our state and country and how TROA (Treat & Reduce Obesity Act) could help. #ObesityCareNow @asmbs https://t.co/U2U6u511yL via @journalsentinel
— Luke Funk, MD, MPH (@lmfunk2) July 22, 2021
On March 4th, 2022, World Obesity Day, a spike in conversation occurred, with HCPs using the hashtag #OCW2022 to push for support of TROA and address the challenges in accessing obesity care. The hashtag appeared 30 times that day, and 77 times overall in subsequent posts. This is a common online behaviour we’ve observed in our research; HCPs frequently turn to social media to advocate for causes they are passionate about.
Throughout 2021-2022, the hashtag #obesitycarenow appeared in over 120 posts by HCPs, including one post from the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) that was shared 69 times. This post thanked various Congress members for co-sponsoring TROA. OCAN, which petitioned Congress to pass the bill, was mentioned 141 times in discussions about TROA, further amplifying the call for action.
Even before this significant spike in March 2022, HCPs were actively promoting TROA on X, stressing the urgency of its passage with messages like “Support TROA, a bill that MUST become law,” and “Please sign.” Their consistent message was that TROA was essential for addressing the “obesity crisis”.
To intensify their efforts, HCPs began tagging senators directly, urging them to support the bill. Psychiatrist Jasleen, for example, highlighted the disproportionate impact of obesity on marginalised communities, sharing, “#TROA removes barriers for people affected by #obesity. Nearly 50% of Black and Latinx Americans are living with the disease. @SenMarkKelly @SenatorSinema support #TROA.” Others amplified patients’ voices, sharing posts about struggles with accessing treatment, with the post below reading: “Please help us care for patients better.”
An important bill that would open doors for further advancement of obesity care.
Please help us care for patients better. #treatandreduceobesityact @ObesityAction #TROA @ASMBS @ObesityAdvocacy @ObesitySociety @ObesityMedicine @OMAsocial https://t.co/N8oYyV4eFR
— Christine Lovato MD (@DrCLovato) June 26, 2022
By June 10th, 2022, TROA had reached 167 congressional supporters. Although the online HCP movement was gaining momentum, by the end of 2022, “The #TROA bill [remained] largely ignored by the US government.” Despite this, HCPs continued their advocacy for legislative support.
And we’ll be seeking old and new co-sponsors for TROA in the new Congress. Every 2 years gotta start again!
— Rebecca Andrick, DO (@RebeccaAndrick1) December 31, 2022
B. TROA is reintroduced in Congress, HCPs look forward with anticipation to the outcome
Continuing into 2023, 74 HCPs remained actively engaged in advocating for TROA. Among them, Neil Floch was the most active author. He contributed significantly to the conversation with 194 posts advocating for access to obesity treatments, 24 of which specifically focused on TROA. His posts were shared 278 times, amplifying his message within the medical community, and he was referenced 160 times throughout the year. In his posts about TROA, Floch frequently discussed the struggle for equitable coverage of obesity treatments; he emphasised the pressure on insurance companies to expand coverage for medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Indeed, HCPs shared similar views to Dr. Floch’s. For instance, Internal Medicine Physician, Angela Fitch, shared Novo Nordisk’s positive SELECT trial results, adding “Let’s pass #TROA and make obesity treatment a standard benefit on health plans across the US.”
Throughout the year, HCPs participated in various advocacy activities for TROA such as webinars and attending the ObesityPAC’s reception hosted by The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Hence, when TROA was reintroduced on July 21st, 19 HCPs subsequently expressed gratitude for the bill and Congress’ involvement.
Thank you @SenatorCarper & @SenBillCassidy! @SenatorWarnock & @SenOssoff, 1 out of every 3 Georgians have obesity. It is the 2nd leading cause of preventable death. Please support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. @OMAsocial @ObesitySociety https://t.co/h5Bv9NyGSe
— Christina Huynh Nguyen, MD (@CNTNguyenMD) July 22, 2023
A significant milestone in the online conversation occurred on September 19th when the House Committee on Energy and Commerce discussed TROA. 24 HCPs closely followed these proceedings, commending members of the committee for their dedication to advancing critical healthcare legislation like TROA.
👏🏾@RepRaulRuizMD, @RepCardenas, @RepLarryBucshon, @RepGregPence, @RepMMM & @michaelcburgess for speaking up in support of HR 4818 Treat and Reduce Obesity Act during 9.19 @HouseCommerce Health Subcommittee hearing.
Learn more about ABC’s support of #TROA👇🏾https://t.co/BA0CBXpOPu— Association of Black Cardiologists (@ABCardio1) September 25, 2023
Thank you @TeamCMR @CathyMcMorris @FrankPallone for including the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act in Sept 19 hearing. This impt legislation is 🔑 to providing access to evidence based treatment for the disease of obesity & addressing the serious weight health issues that current…
— Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD (@MichelleCardel) September 18, 2023
While the hearing brought attention to the bill, it did not result in immediate legislative action or passage of the act. Nonetheless, HCPs continued to “hope” for TROA’s passage.
Endocrinologist Beverly Tchang shared a blog from obesity advocate Ted Kyle, which summed up 2023 efforts: “Pressure [was] mounting for better access to these treatments.”
I hope #TROA & lifestyle support from RDN’s or other obesity professionals is Hot- patients need client – centered care especially if they are on any anti-obesity professionals!
— Chris Weithman (She/her) (@Christinekw) December 31, 2023
Let’s keep the momentum for the TROA bill going in WV! It will allow Medicare to cover obesity behavioral and medical treatments. https://t.co/oIwiT5kfho
— Laura Davisson, MD, MPH (@lauradavisson) November 2, 2023
C. HCPs celebrate TROA amendment
In 2024, the advocacy around TROA revealed the continued commitment of HCPs to addressing obesity care. In the first half of the year, 50 HCPs actively contributed to the online conversation, collectively posting over 120 times about TROA. As the House Ways and Means Committee prepared for a crucial vote in June, HCPs amplified their calls for the bill’s passage; the call to action was clear: “We need passage of #TROA so more people can access care!”
Let’s talk about Obesity and #TROA today! Lobbying to get @SenWarren @SenMarkey @RepRichardNeal @RepMoulton @RepAuchincloss @RepStephenLynch to sponsor TROA today! Much thanks to the amazing staff for their valuable time today! Everyone seems to agree we should treat obesity! pic.twitter.com/GpY79cdgGq
— Angela Fitch,MD (@DrAngelaFitch) March 4, 2024
Leading up to June 27th, HCPs eagerly anticipated the outcome of the House Ways and Means Committee’s markup session on TROA. Their online posts shared the Obesity Action Coalition’s “ACTION ALERT,” which highlighted the significance of this moment in expanding obesity care for older adults on Medicare. The proposed amendment marked a “key step toward broader treatment options for Medicare beneficiaries”, driving online engagement among HCPs with them mentioning Patient advocacy groups (PAGs) and Congress accounts.
When the amended version of TROA passed with a bipartisan vote of 36-4, HCPs celebrated this milestone, sharing their relief and optimism. The volume of conversation was 2500% higher than usual, driven by messages like, “Big news” and “After a decade of toiling away for this, we are FINALLY on the road to progress.”
Ways and Means Committee passed The amendment for TROA today 36-4!!! https://t.co/jwtNz81wEW
— Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP (@ElenaRiosMD) June 28, 2024
Additionally, the global reach of these discussions remained significant throughout the first half of 2024. HCPs from countries such as the UK, Mexico, India, and Spain actively participated, highlighting that, although TROA is a US-based legislative issue, it resonates internationally. The 120 HCP posts in 2024 alone reached nearly 600,000 accounts worldwide.
The role of social media in HCP advocacy for policy change
The story of HCPs’ advocacy for TROA revealed a broader truth: HCPs care deeply about the real-world implications of legislation, especially when it affects patient health. Throughout their online conversations, it became clear that access to obesity treatments, equitable healthcare, and reducing stigma were key priorities. Their persistent efforts to push for TROA’s passage reflected a commitment to ensuring patients receive the care they deserve, regardless of the barriers posed by insurance.
Social media has proven to be a powerful tool for HCPs to amplify their voices. Platforms like X allow them to raise awareness, share updates, and rally support for legislative changes that affect patient outcomes. The reach and immediacy of social media enable HCPs to engage not only with each other but also with policymakers and the broader public, making it an essential space for advocacy.
If you would like to explore more about this, why not check out our resources: Deepening perspectives: How social media is driving our understanding of HCP sentiment, What Do HCPs Think the Future of Oncology Treatment Looks Like?, or get in touch.