The people running corporate health benefits have spent more time thinking about prescription drugs in the past two years than in the prior ten, mainly because of the skyrocketing popularity of GLP-1s. The weight-loss drugs that began as a diabetes therapy have become among the most disruptive line items in the pharmacy budget. Nearly eight in ten employers say GLP-1s are driving up their health costs, and three-quarters of large employers report that managing that spend is a top priority. The questions consuming benefits committees are all variations on the same theme: Do we cover these drugs for weight loss? If we do, how do we keep utilization from swallowing the plan — and if we don't, what do we tell our employees?
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