The conversation around GLP-1 coverage is often framed as a choice: cover these medications and absorb the rising cost, or stop covering them. But there are other options. Our Chief Medical Officer, Avantika Waring, MD, shares her key takeaways from the conversation at the Houston Business Coalition on Health (HBCH)—and what she heard directly from employers in the room.
One thing was clear from my conversations with employers at the Houston Business Coalition on Health (HBCH) this week: the question is increasingly not whether to cover GLP-1s for weight management, but how to make that coverage sustainable for the long term. Employers understand the health benefits these medications can provide. They also understand that obesity is a chronic condition and, for many people, treatment is a long-term commitment. That makes finding a model that balances access, responsible clinical care, and cost more important than ever. It was encouraging to hear how many employers are looking beyond traditional purchasing models and exploring new approaches, including direct-to-employer options. At 9amHealth, we believe bringing clinical management and medication purchasing closer together can be an important part of making GLP-1 coverage work—for both members and employers. Thank you to my fellow panelists Michael Lessard of Waltz Health, Dan Byrne of Eli Lilly and Company, and Donna Fernandez of Houston ISD for a thoughtful discussion on alternative purchasing of GLP-1s, and to the Houston Business Coalition on Health (HBCH) for bringing us together. There’s still plenty to solve, but I’m encouraged by where the conversation is headed!