This bill proposes the creation of a new section in chapter 50-24.1 of the North Dakota Century Code to establish medical assistance prescription drug benefits specifically for antiobesity medication. It mandates that medical assistance coverage, including Medicaid expansion, must provide comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment, which encompasses intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved antiobesity medications. The bill stipulates that the criteria for coverage of antiobesity medication cannot be more restrictive than the FDA-approved indications and that the coverage must be consistent with that of other illnesses, ensuring no separate or different treatment in terms of deductibles, lifetime limits, or copayment factors.

Additionally, the bill allows for utilization management to assess the medical necessity of obesity treatment, provided that such determinations are made in the same manner as for other covered conditions. The Department of Human Services is required to notify enrollees about the coverage mandated by this section, ensuring that the information is clearly communicated in writing and included in relevant literature or correspondence by December 31, 2025.