Drug Topics March 29, 2024
After semaglutide and tirzepatide were approved, and ozempic use continues to rise, Medicare spending is also increasing because of a high demand for GLP-1 therapies.
In 2022, gross total Medicare spending for GLP-1 therapies used to treat diabetes reached $57 billion, up from $57 million in 2018, according to a new analysis from KFF.1 KFF looked at Medicare Part D spending before rebates of semaglutide (Ozempic), semaglutide (Rybelsus), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
Increased attention has been on the GLP-1 class of medications after semaglutide was approved as Wegovy and tirzepatide as Zepbound to treat obesity.
Medicare Part D is unable to cover weight loss medications because of the way the law was written. But Medicare provides coverage for the GLP-1 therapies...
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