About Kelly Harkins

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Kelly Harkins has created 72 blog entries.

New York Medicaid and State Employee Health Coverage

Joint Memorandum In Support of S.3104 (Cooney)/ A.4211 (Reyes) Comprehensive Obesity Treatment Health Insurance CoverageJoint Memorandum In Support of S.3104 (Cooney)/ A.4211 (Reyes) Comprehensive Obesity Treatment Health Insurance Coverage The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) strongly support S.3104 (Cooney)/A.4211 (Reyes), which [...]

2026-08-08T16:08:21-04:00April 6th, 2026|

Obesity Groups Oppose Efforts to Eliminate Minnesota Medical Assistance Coverage for FDA-Approved Obesity Management Medication

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) strongly oppose HF 4142 – legislation introduced by Representative Nadeau, which would affect the Medicaid drug formulary managed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services by prohibiting coverage of prescription drugs used solely for weight [...]

2026-08-08T15:41:54-04:00March 17th, 2026|

Obesity Groups Urge Massachusetts State Policymakers to maintain GIC and MassHealth Coverage for Comprehensive Obesity Care

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) strongly oppose Governor Healey and the Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) efforts to eliminate Medicaid and state employee coverage for GLP-1 medications. Our organizations strongly support coverage of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – approved obesity management medications [...]

2026-08-08T15:27:21-04:00March 15th, 2026|

The Obesity Society Statement on Safety Concerns Related to Compounded GLP-1

The Obesity Society Statement on Safety Concerns Related to Compounded GLP-1 Rockville, MD - March 12, 2026 - Jacqueline M. Stephens, PhD, FTOS, President of The Obesity Society (TOS), the nation’s leading scientific organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of obesity, released the following statement on reports that an impurity has been [...]

2026-03-18T13:07:33-04:00March 12th, 2026|

Leading Medical Groups Affirm Obesity Medications Are Safe and Effective for Long-Term Use

Rockville, MD - March 5 — Leading obesity experts have released new guidance confirming that obesity medications are safe, effective, and appropriate for long-term use. These findings will give millions of Americans living with obesity greater clarity and confidence in their treatment options. The Obesity Society (TOS), [...]

2026-06-09T10:15:50-04:00March 5th, 2026|

Ohio Prohibition Language Medicaid Coverage Medications

Gov. Mike DeWine Vern Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 South High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 Attn: Giles Allen, Director of Legislative Affairs Gov. DeWine, We, the undersigned organizations representing tens of thousands of patients, families, clinicians, and advocates across Ohio, urge your administration to use its authority to immediately remove the prohibition against Medicaid [...]

2026-08-07T19:32:22-04:00March 2nd, 2026|

The Obesity Society Calls for National Action During Obesity Care Week 2026

Rockville, MD - March 2, 2026 — With obesity rates rising and millions of Americans still unable to access comprehensive, evidence-based treatment, The Obesity Society (TOS) is using Obesity Care Week 2026 to spotlight obesity as a serious, chronic disease and to emphasize the importance of expanding access to care. Obesity Care Week (March 2-6) [...]

2026-06-09T10:16:39-04:00March 2nd, 2026|

Hawaii Medicaid Access

Obesity Groups Support Medicaid Coverage for Comprehensive Obesity Care & Urge Passage of SB 3195 and HB 2456 The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) strongly support coverage of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – approved obesity medications in the context of [...]

2026-08-07T19:21:00-04:00February 26th, 2026|

Unapproved and Misleaded Compounded GLP-1s

Dr. Marty Makary Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Re: Support for FDA Action to Address Unapproved and Misleading Compounded GLP-1 Drugs Dear Commissioner Makary: We write to applaud the FDA’s February 6, 2026 announcement to take decisive action against mass-marketed, non-FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs that put [...]

2026-08-07T19:08:42-04:00February 20th, 2026|

Marlyand Medicaid Expansion

Obesity Groups Support Passage of Maryland Senate Bill 876/House Bill 1489 to Expand Medicaid Coverage of Comprehensive Obesity Care On behalf of The Obesity Society (TOS) -- based in Maryland -- and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the Obesity Ac=on Coali=on (OAC), we are pleased to express our strong [...]

2026-08-07T19:08:15-04:00February 17th, 2026|