Employee Benefits Planning Association (EBPA)

Obesity Management Programs- More learnings from our March 6th education event. Did you know? Core components of a comprehensive obesity management program should include the following: 1. Screening for obesity 2. Intensive behavioral therapy, including Cognitive components 3. Physical components and Nutrition components 4. Pharmacotherapy 5. Bariatric surgery, and Weight maintenance (Monitoring/prevention and Follow-up/intervention) 6. Community based support and digital support should also be considered What were your big takeaways from our March 6th GLP-1 education event? Another shout out to our presenters Andrew Gudac, PharmD, RPh, Kelly Polinski and Kat Khachatourian (Wolf), PharmD, MBA and our event sponsors WellnessIQ, Garner Health and Navitus Health Solutions

More nuggets from our March 6th GLP-1 Education Event.... Did you know? In the “olden days” having a low socio-economic status was correlated with starvation as in not having enough food to eat. In the post-war era there were many attempts to solve this, which lead to changes in the way some of our food was produced. When we fast forward to current times, having a low socio-economic status is no longer correlated with starvation (ie: lack of food), but is now correlated with having access to only nutrient deficient foods, which has contributed to the rise in metabolic disease states.

EBPA + GLP-1 Event = Learnings Here's what you missed at the March 6th event: ?? A GLP-1 drug or Glucagon Like Peptide agonist – is actually an artificial version of the GLP-1 hormone that we all produce naturally in our stomachs - it stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas, it suppresses the release of glucagon, another hormone that raises blood sugar levels, It slows down gastric emptying, which delays the absorption of food into the bloodstream and It promotes satiety, reducing appetite and food intake. ?? Treating a metabolic state with a GLP-1 is actually not new, but the prevalence of it is new. ?? Mental health is a huge component of this and employers should not be looking at strategies that do not also take into account the mental health component of obesity ?? The 4 factors of “metabolic syndrome” are 1. Abdominal obesity, 2. Hypertension, 3. High triglycerides & blood sugar, and 4. hyperlipidemia – having three of any of these significantly increases your risk of developing, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and renal disease – this is why a vast majority of employer plans are choosing to cover the GLP-1’s for obesity with standard PA controls in place – to reduce the future claims risk What were your key event takeaways? #ebpaseattle #GLP1 #weightloss #weightmanagement #employeebenefits #healthinsurance #cardiometabolic #mentalhealth #mentalwellbeing

Did you happen to attend last weeks Employee Benefits Planning Association (EBPA) #GLP-1 education event in Seattle? If not, here's what you missed. Three AMAZING speakers representing multiple perspectives on GLP-1's. Thank you Kelly Polinski, Andrew Gudac, PharmD, RPh and Kat Khachatourian (Wolf), PharmD, MBA for sharing your expertise with us. We received several comments about your presentations and how impactful they were. Three WONDERFUL sponsors who help underwrite the cost of putting on events at the Washington Athletic Club....and the bacon of course. Thank you Navitus Health Solutions, Garner Health and WellnessIQ! What were your takeaways from this event? Leave a comment! Mark your calendars, our May 15th, Men's Health event is right around the corner! #ebpaseattle #GLP1 #pharmacy #pharmacydisruption #employeebenefits #healthinsurance

Packed house for today’s session on GLP-1 medications and what they mean for employer health plans. It’s a huge topic right now, and I’m eager to hear different perspectives. Kudos to the board at Employee Benefits Planning Association (EBPA) for the incredible community created here and insightful speakers.

We'll see you BRIGHT and EARLY Thursday morning in #Seattle. Metabolic Marvels is just a few days away! Will you be there? Register online through EOD today (link below). If you miss the cutoff don't worry, we've got you. Email [email protected] and we can get you registered even the morning of the event. Thanks again to our generous sponsors WellnessIQ, Navitus Health Solutions and Garner Health, LLC! #ebpaseattle #employeebenefits #GLP-1 #pharmacybenefitmanager #healthinsurance #pharmacy #weightloss #SHRM

?? 10 years ago, few employers were talking about GLP-1s. Today, they’re a top cost concern. The question isn’t IF your health plan will be affected—it’s HOW MUCH. At EBPA’s March 6 event, we’ll unpack: ?? How GLP-1s work & where the market is headed ?? The data behind cost trends & utilization rates ?? Employer strategies for balancing coverage & sustainability Every employer is asking: “Should we cover GLP-1s for weight loss?” The real question is: “Can we afford NOT to?” ?? March 6, 2024 | WAC, Seattle ?? Reserve your spot: LINK IN COMMENTS What do you think—are GLP-1s a necessary investment or an unsustainable expense? Shout out to our sponsors Garner Health, LLC, Navitus Health Solutions, and WellnessIQ - your generosity makes events like this possible! #glp1 #pharmacybenefits #healthcare #employeebenefits

?? GLP-1s are reshaping healthcare, but are employer health plans built for the future? With rising demand and new drugs on the horizon, employers are facing a difficult decision: ?? Cover GLP-1s for weight loss and absorb the cost? ?? Restrict access and risk employee backlash? ?? Find a middle ground—if one even exists? At EBPA’s March 6 event, we’ll explore: ?? Current & future cost predictions—what’s sustainable? ?? Compounded medications & FDA regulations—what’s legal? ?? ROI considerations—what’s actually working? As a broker or benefits leader, are you prepared to guide your clients through this? ?? March 6, 2024 | WAC, Seattle #glp1 #pharmacybenefits #employeebenefits #healthcare ?? Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/emGb2kSY

?? Ozempic, Wegovy, and the employer dilemma—game-changer or budget breaker? ?? Recent analyses highlight the growing interest and challenges employers face regarding GLP-1 medications for weight loss. A survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) indicates that approximately one-third of employers now cover GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for both diabetes management and weight loss, reflecting an 8% increase since last fall. However, the high costs—typically ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 per month—have led many employers to implement utilization management strategies like prior authorization and BMI requirements to manage expenses. Despite these challenges, the potential health benefits are undeniable. GLP-1 medications are proving to be powerful tools in managing type 2 diabetes and aiding in weight loss, which can lead to improved long-term health outcomes for employees. With demand surging, employers are at a crossroads: How do you balance access to these treatments with financial sustainability? This will be a hot topic at the EBPA education event on March 6 at the WAC in Seattle, where industry experts will break down strategies for managing GLP-1 coverage effectively. For a deeper dive into employer perspectives, check out the SHRM article on the topic. Join us at the event as we tackle this evolving challenge together! REGISTRATION ?? in comments below ?? #glp1 #pharmacybenefits #employeebenefits #healthcare https://lnkd.in/gTp4dQCV

The GLP-1 tipping point - what's next for employer health plans? What happens when a single class of drugs becomes one of the biggest cost drivers in employer health plans? GLP-1s have revolutionized treatment for diabetes and obesity - but at what cost? Employers are grappling with skyrocketing demand, uncertain ROI, and evolving coverage strategies. So, how do we balance access with affordability? How do we predict future claims impact and manage coverage responsibility? These are some of the big questions we'll tackle at the EBPA's March 6th event at the WAC in Seattle: ?? What the data tells us about metabolic health & GLP-1 usage ?? The real cost considerations for employers & brokers ?? What strategies are working—and what’s next? This isn’t just another discussion—it’s a must-have conversation for benefits leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. ?? March 6, 2024 | WAC, Seattle ?? Register now: LINK IN COMMENTS What's your take? Should employers embrace full coverage, limit access, or take a different approach? #glp1 #employeebenefits #healthcarecosts