TLT Explains

High Health Costs Ignite Efforts To Legalize Assisted Suicide

By The Liberty Tribune Staff

Published: 9/24/2025 · Updated: 9/24/2025 · 5 min read

When Stephanie Packer, a terminally ill mother of four, contacted her insurance confirm coverage.

What's happening

High Health Costs Ignite Efforts To Legalize Assisted Suicide — The recent agreement between the Trump administration and pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk aims to expand affordable coverage for obesity drugs, a move that has been met with both praise and skepticism. While the initiative is expected to lower the prices of popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, critics argue that the deal may ultimately benefit the pharmaceutical companies more than consumers. Explainer Trump Administration Reassesses Approach to Sanctuary Officials What the Trump obesity drug deal promises The announced that prices for Ozempic and Wegovy would decrease significantly, from $1,000 and $1,350 per month to $350 through a new direct-to-consumer platform called TrumpRx, set to launch next year. Additionally, Medicare prices for these drugs are projected to be $245, which is less than half of the prices proposed by the Biden administration. Supporters of the agreement argue that it could give uninsured or underinsured patients access to treatments that were previously out of reach, potentially improving for millions of Americans struggling with obesity. Why analysts say Big Pharma still comes out ahead However, a Wall Street Journal analysis suggests that these advertised discounts may not reflect the true cost dynamics in the pharmaceutical market. The effective prices that pharmaceutical companies receive after accounting for rebates and discounts are reportedly only 20% to 35% lower than current Medicare payments for Mounjaro, a drug used for diabetes. The direct-to-consumer model is expected to benefit those without insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs, who currently face inflated prices. Yet, the pharmaceutical companies may only experience a modest reduction in net revenue. Analysts note that the companies are shifting their profit strategy from high margins on fewer customers to lower margins on a larger customer base, which could ultimately enhance their market position. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at closing a loophole in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that has allowed users to spend significant amounts of taxpayer money at fast-food restaurants.

What's at stake

Ernst criticized the current system, stating, "Fast food franchises are feasting on the taxpayers’ dime. This McFlurry of abuse cannot be allowed to continue as America’s national debt soars past $38 trillion. It’s time to think outside the bun and restore the SNAP program to its original mission by delivering healthy, instead of happy, meals." Explainer As A Former DC Cop, The Federal Takeover Was The Right Move The proposed legislation, known as the McSCUSE Me Act, seeks to reform SNAP's Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which permits certain SNAP clients to purchase prepared meals at restaurants. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program is designed for individuals who may not have access to kitchens or permanent housing to prepare meals. Currently, nine states participate in the RMP: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Ernst's office indicated that the RMP was established in 1977 to assist homeless individuals, with eligibility later expanded to include the elderly and disabled. However, Ernst's office noted that the program has seen substantial growth in recent years, particularly in California, where state officials and the have authorized over 5,800 restaurants to accept SNAP benefits. In a recent advertisement that has garnered over 40 million views on social media, former Disney star Calum Worthy promotes his company 2wai's app, which allows users to create AI avatars of deceased loved ones. The ad features a pregnant woman interacting with an AI version of her mother, raising concerns about the implications of such technology on family dynamics and the memory of the deceased.

Explainer Immigrants Create 21 Children Via Surrogate Before Allegedly Abusing Them The ad suggests that these digital avatars can participate in significant life events, prompting discussions about the ethical ramifications of using AI to replace human connections. Critics argue that the concept reduces the essence of loved ones to mere digital representations, stripping away their individuality and legacy. "The ad’s suggestion that lost loved ones can be rendered obsolete in minutes by soulless video game characters is repulsive and deeply disrespectful to the memories of the dead," said Elle Purnell, the assignment editor at The Federalist. The technology taps into a broader trend of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, which are often marketed as solutions for couples struggling with fertility. However, these practices have raised ethical questions regarding their impact on traditional family structures. A 2015 study indicated that the availability of IVF may lead women to delay childbirth, with more first-time mothers in the U.S. What to watch next is whether new filings, agency actions, votes, or court decisions change the timeline—and how officials respond in the weeks ahead.

Why it matters

The coverage highlights: Why Trump's Obesity Drug 'Deal' Will Help Big Pharma Most Of All. The coverage highlights: Ernst Introduces Bill To End Blue States' Fast-Food SNAP Abuse. The coverage highlights: AI Technology Raises Ethical Questions in Parenting and Legacy. The coverage highlights: GOP Urged to Focus on Legislative Agenda Amid Internal Conflicts. The coverage highlights: Prepare For Doctors To Smuggle Suicide Drugs Into Red States. The coverage highlights: IVF-Addicted 68-Year-Old Is Everything Wrong With Big Fertility.

Key facts & context

2025-11-25: Why Trump's Obesity Drug 'Deal' Will Help Big Pharma Most Of All. 2025-11-20: Ernst Introduces Bill To End Blue States' Fast-Food SNAP Abuse. 2025-11-19: AI Technology Raises Ethical Questions in Parenting and Legacy. 2025-11-17: GOP Urged to Focus on Legislative Agenda Amid Internal Conflicts. 2025-11-14: Prepare For Doctors To Smuggle Suicide Drugs Into Red States. 2025-11-07: IVF-Addicted 68-Year-Old Is Everything Wrong With Big Fertility. 2025-11-05: Democrats Advocate for Extended Health Insurance Subsidies Amid Government Shutdown. 2025-10-29: Legislation Proposed to Protect Teens from AI Companion Chatbots. 2025-10-23: Pennsylvania Committee Passes Six Extreme Abortion Measures. 2025-09-24: High Health Costs Ignite Efforts To Legalize Assisted Suicide.

Timeline & key developments

Primary sources

BillNavClient — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov