White Paper

The Skinny on Weight Loss Drugs and Workers’ Comp

Weight loss drugs are surging in popularity and making their way into workers’ comp. Get the latest news on payer coverage, drug shortages, and costs.
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White Paper Summary

Six percent of U.S. adults – an estimated 15.5 million people – report using injectable diabetes medicine to reduce weight, including 3% who are using such medicine specifically for weight loss, according to a May 2024 Gallup poll.

These drugs are part of a medication class called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which was originally utilized to treat type 2 diabetes and demonstrates significant weight loss when combined with diet and exercise. The most well-known of the drugs, Ozempic® (semaglutide), has received endorsements from public figures such as Oprah.

Now, with weight loss drugs becoming more widespread – and making their way into workers’ comp – we’re taking a fresh look at the issue.

 

For more content like this from Healthesystems visit their RxInformer clinical journal website.

Healthesystems is a leading provider of Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) & Ancillary Benefits Management programs for the workers' compensation industry.