Weight Loss Medications & Group Health Plans

June 5, 2024

Weight loss medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy have been on the rise in the past few years thanks to their powerful efficacy, and many organizations are either currently funding these specialty medications or considering if they should. Rising pharmacy costs are among the chief drivers of healthcare expenses for employers, and these medications carry high claims costs to group health plans.

This one-hour webinar, hosted by Renewal and featuring pharmacy experts from SmithRx, is designed for employers who want to take an analytical approach to specialty medications and health plans. During the session, our experts will discuss:

  • Clinical education, what GLP-1 agonists are, and how they work
  • Information on GLP-1 agonists and their claim costs for group health plans
  • Strategies for controlling the cost of these specialty drugs while maintaining employees’ access to the drugs they need
  • Other classifications of medications that could have similar cost impacts to group health plans

Moderator:

Ryan Davis, Partner  | Renewal

Speakers:

Jake Frenz, Founder & CEO  | SmithRx

Alan Pannier (PharmD, MBA), SVP of Product Strategy  |  SmithRx

 

Who is the webinar for?

  • Companies with health plans that are rated based on claims
  • Self-funded employers
  • Employers in health insurance captives

 

Why is the topic important?

  • These medications have exploded in usage and are surrounded by a lot of controversy both clinically and from a claims basis
  •  These medications are very expensive and are widely being used for weight loss as well as combatting type 2 diabetes symptoms
  • Employers need to be educated on what exactly these drugs are, how people are getting access and how to formulate a strategy for management via their group health plan
  • If your company is fully insured and using a standard pharmacy benefits manager, there is little to no control over these drugs and their placement on the PDL (prescription drug list)