From Bingo to BUZZED: Medicare Tries a New Kind of Senior Care.

Medicare is entering the hemp market, with older Americans potentially serving as the first group to try a new approach, according to Axios. For the first time, the federal program is testing coverage for certain CBD products. Under the pilot program, providers can receive up to $500 per patient each year to discuss and supply these products as part of treatment. Patients must pay for the products upfront, and the items must remain within strict THC limits, be third-party tested, and comply with state regulations. About 68,000 Medicare providers across the country are involved in the effort, according to Vice.

The initiative is part of a broader White House push to ease federal restrictions on marijuana and comes as concerns grow about how the healthcare system treats chronic pain. Supporters say the program could help reduce risky self-experimentation among older adults who already use cannabis for problems such as pain and insomnia without guidance from medical professionals. “Right now, seniors are muddling their way through it themselves,” said Leigh Vinocur of the National Compassionate Care Council, a medical marijuana advocacy group.

Federal health officials say the pilot program is intended to generate real-world data on safety and effectiveness. Critics, however, have already challenged the effort. Anti-marijuana groups have filed lawsuits, arguing that the program is unlawful and could pose risks to seniors. Participation may also be limited because Medicare providers must cover the product costs upfront. Another complication is expected in November, when a new law will narrow the legal definition of hemp, which may require Medicare to revise which products qualify under the program.