Viewpoints from Laura Matarazzo
Employers have enough on their plate with rising healthcare costs – especially pharmaceuticals. Learn more in our upcoming webinar on Thursday, August 22, as we dive into one of the hottest pharmacy topics on employers’ minds today. The road of increased plan member pressure and new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, is a long one.
These powerful drugs for patients with diabetes and obesity come at a price tag exceeding $10,000 per patient annually. But there are ways to optimize your GLP-1 strategy!
Employee demand for the drugs as an obesity treatment and their potential health benefits are likely behind the push. A recent Kaiser Foundation survey found that one in eight U.S. adults (roughly 12.5%) have used a GLP-1 agonist, and considerably more are interested and hoping their employers will offer coverage in their 2025 health plans.
You have questions; we have answers.
Join us on August 22 as our pharmacists unpack GLP-1 planning for 2025 and beyond. Getting the most helpful answers starts with asking the right questions. Here are five questions you need answers to:
- When are GLP-1s the right choice?
Learn how to distinguish between cases where GLP-1s are most beneficial or where lower-cost alternatives are as effective for diabetes treatment. - What are strategies for smart utilization?
Discover practical utilization management techniques to ensure the appropriate patients get GLP-1s for the intended diagnoses. Learn strategies for optimizing coverage for members with obesity. - Are GLP-1s worth the cost?
Some clinicians assert that the upfront costs are lower than the long-run expenses without them, but they are still a serious concern for plan sponsors. - How can GLP-1 coverage help maintain employer-of-choice status?
Employers who offer the benefits that employees want – those that contribute to their overall health and wellbeing – may be more competitive in the marketplace. - What do I need to consider regarding the future of GLP-1s?
Gain insight into the drug pipeline and studies for expanded indications. Explore how these trends might impact costs in the coming years.
In 2023, an average of 9.3% of organizations’ total annual pharmacy spend was for GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes, an increase over the 2022 average of 6.0%, while 1.7% of 2023 pharmacy spend was on GLP-1 drugs used for obesity, an increase over the 2022 average of 0.4%, according to the State of Specialty Spend and Trend Report published in 2024 by Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG).
What’s the rational approach to offering GLP-1s?
Be intentional about GLP-1 coverage. With the support of our in-house pharmacists and clinicians, your EPIC consultant can help you take control of your pharmacy program’s GLP-1 costs.
Register today to join us on August 22 at 11 a.m. PT / Noon MT / 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET.
Get in Touch with Panelist
Laura Matarazzo, RPh | Vice President, Middle Market Plan Sponsor Consulting | EPIC Pharmacy Solutions, powered by PSG | Contact Laura via email.
EPIC offers this material for general information only. EPIC does not intend this material to be, nor may any person receiving this information construe or rely on this material as, tax or legal advice. The matters addressed in this document and any related discussions or correspondence should be reviewed and discussed with legal counsel prior to acting or relying on these materials.
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