Eli Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound can now be covered by government-backed Medicare insurance plans for use in sleep apnea, broadening access to the blockbuster weight-loss treatment. The Wednesday statement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services comes after Zepbound in December became the first drug approved in the U.

Zepbound is not covered by Medicare or many other insurance plans as a treatment for weight loss. The injectable treatment costs about $1,000 a month without insurance.

Eli Lilly's (NYSE:LLY) weight-loss drug Zepbound is now reportedly covered by Medicare for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in people with obesity. CNBC said Wednesday that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed that Medicare drug plans can now cover Zepbound,

It opens the door for broader coverage and access to Zepbound, which is not currently covered by Medicare and many other insurance plans for weight loss.