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Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Get the blueprint for a comprehensive GLP-1 and weight management strategy that successfully balances cost-containment with member outcomes.

Watch the Webinar

Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Get the blueprint for a comprehensive GLP-1 and weight management strategy that successfully balances cost-containment with member outcomes.

Watch the Webinar

Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Get the blueprint for a comprehensive GLP-1 and weight management strategy that successfully balances cost-containment with member outcomes.

Watch the Webinar

and More Care Partners

Maximize Affordability & Health Outcomes

The SmithRx Weight Management Program’s clinically-informed approach helps members access weight management medications, including low-list price GLP-1s. Our flexible partnership model ensures members get the tools they need for successful weight management.

Maximize Affordability & Health Outcomes

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Participating plans save 50% on weight management drugs, such as GLP-1s. (Compared to average industry costs post-rebate)

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Participating plans save 50% on weight management drugs, such as GLP-1s. (Compared to average industry costs post-rebate)

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Participating plans save 50% on weight management drugs, such as GLP-1s. (Compared to average industry costs post-rebate)

Holistic, Clinically-Informed Care

Our best-of-breed partnerships ensure clinically-appropriate GLP-1 use and financial sustainability. You’ll get access to low-list price GLP-1s paired with tailored lifestyle strategies for long-term success.

Holistic, Clinically-Informed Care

Proven Weight Loss Success

Members access personalized care and coaching from obesity specialists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and dietitians through our network of Care Partners.

Proven Weight Loss Success

Members access personalized care and coaching from obesity specialists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and dietitians through our network of Care Partners.

Proven Weight Loss Success

Members access personalized care and coaching from obesity specialists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and dietitians through our network of Care Partners.

MEET THE EXPERTS

SmithRx Pharmacy Leadership Team

Alan Pannier

PharmD, MBA

Chief Strategy Officer

Alissa Johnson

PharmD, MBA, BCPS

Senior Director of Clinical Strategy

Portia Gifford Moss

PharmD

Director of Clinical Review

PharmD

Director of Clinical Review

Dustin Wagstaff

PharmD

Manager of Clinical Strategy

Tanuja Patel

PharmD

Lead Clinical Account Manager

Shelby Hafner

PharmD

Clinical Strategy Lead

GLP-1 Resources

date

Modern PBM

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

With the FDA approval of the oral Wegovy pill, there are more GLP-1 therapy options Discover how SmithRx balances innovative treatments with sustainable cost-control strategies.

date

Modern PBM

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

With the FDA approval of the oral Wegovy pill, there are more GLP-1 therapy options Discover how SmithRx balances innovative treatments with sustainable cost-control strategies.

date

Modern PBM

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

With the FDA approval of the oral Wegovy pill, there are more GLP-1 therapy options Discover how SmithRx balances innovative treatments with sustainable cost-control strategies.

date

Employer Strategies

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

Employers can adapt benefit strategies to manage the rising costs and demand of GLP-1 drugs. Learn how SmithRx helps optimize pharmacy spend while supporting member health.

date

Employer Strategies

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

Employers can adapt benefit strategies to manage the rising costs and demand of GLP-1 drugs. Learn how SmithRx helps optimize pharmacy spend while supporting member health.

date

Employer Strategies

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

Employers can adapt benefit strategies to manage the rising costs and demand of GLP-1 drugs. Learn how SmithRx helps optimize pharmacy spend while supporting member health.

date

Employer Strategies

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

Dive into the science behind GLP-1s, trends and demands employers are seeing for these drugs, and how you can ensure you’ve got the right building blocks for GLP-1 success.

date

Employer Strategies

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

Dive into the science behind GLP-1s, trends and demands employers are seeing for these drugs, and how you can ensure you’ve got the right building blocks for GLP-1 success.

date

Employer Strategies

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

Dive into the science behind GLP-1s, trends and demands employers are seeing for these drugs, and how you can ensure you’ve got the right building blocks for GLP-1 success.

date

Modern PBM

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

With the FDA approval of the oral Wegovy pill, there are more GLP-1 therapy options Discover how SmithRx balances innovative treatments with sustainable cost-control strategies.

date

Employer Strategies

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

Employers can adapt benefit strategies to manage the rising costs and demand of GLP-1 drugs. Learn how SmithRx helps optimize pharmacy spend while supporting member health.

date

View All Articles

Webinar

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET

The GLP-1 Breakthrough: What it is, Why it Matters, and How to Drive Health Plan Savings

About the Webinar

A comprehensive weight management strategy is essential for employers looking to take control of your GLP-1 spend without sacrificing care. Pulling it off requires the right plan—and the right partners.

Get the blueprint for a program that successfully balances savings with member outcomes.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

About the science behind GLP-1s—and the data around how they’re impacting employers
How thoughtfully structured weight management plans can balance costs with outcomes
What benefits our SmithRx program offers in collaboration with 9amHealth

Speakers

Alissa Johnson, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

Senior Director, Clinical Strategy, SmithRx

Avantika Waring, MD

Chief Medical Officer, 9amHealth

FAQ

Frequently Asked   Questions

What are GLP-1s?

Glucagon-like peptides-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) and Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide receptor agonists (GIP) are medications that mimic hormones naturally produced by the body. When referring to 'GLP-1s', this includes GLP-1s and dual GLP-1s/GIPs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several GLP-1s to treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and metabolic liver disease, as well as to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease–with more indications in the pipeline.

What are the growth drivers of GLP-1s?

GLP-1 therapies, first approved in 2005, have been part of the pharmacy landscape for two decades. Recently, their demand has surged due to their benefits and FDA approvals for type 2 diabetes, weight management, obstructive sleep apnea, a type of liver disease (MASH: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) and reducing cardiovascular risks. GLP-1s are also being studied for treating various chronic diseases like heart failure, kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Their future growth is expected to continue, driven by their efficacy and safety, the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity, and new FDA- approved indications, likely making them a significant driver of employer plan sponsors' pharmacy benefits spending.

We know GLP-1s are popular, but how are employers and health plans companies responding to the demand?

Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG) reported that nearly 90% of health plans and employers respondents were moderately or very concerned about the affordability of GLP-1s. According to the same PSG report, 92% of health plans and employers currently cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, while 39% cover them for obesity.

How are plan sponsors managing the costs of GLP-1s for obesity?

According to a study by PSG2, the top cost containment strategies are prior authorization, Body Mass Index (BMI) requirement, quantity limits, comorbid condition requirement, step therapy, and lifestyle modification program participation requirement.

What is the SmithRx Weight Management Program?

SmithRx addresses the escalating costs of anti-obesity medications by providing plan sponsors and their members with access to Direct-to-Employer GLP-1 pricing paired with a customized, member-tailored care model. This program integrates with specialized virtual clinical providers who connect members to comprehensive coaching, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle support while evaluating clinical indications for medical necessity. By leveraging advanced clinical oversight and strict gatekeeping, the program enforces a rigorous, step-wise approach that prioritizes low-cost therapies and lifestyle management before deploying GLP-1 medications. This targeted strategy mitigates financial risk for the plan while ensuring qualifying members receive a clinically sound pathway to long-term health outcomes.

Does program participation require a clinical review?

The SmithRx Weight Management Program requires a mandatory clinical review to ensure GLP-1 therapies are utilized safely and appropriately. This comprehensive evaluation is performed directly by our digital health vendors, whose multi-disciplinary provider teams—including obesity specialists, pharmacists, and nutritionists—look beyond standard BMI metrics to review each member's full medical history and lab values. This integrated care team implements a strict, clinically driven treatment plan that mandates behavior and lifestyle modifications before prescribing medication. This seamless oversight ensures the plan sponsor incurs spend only when clinically necessary while establishing a sustainable pathway for effective, long-term health outcomes.

SmithRx is on a mission to reduce the complexity and costs of pharmacy benefits with radical transparency and cutting-edge technology.

Sales and Business

844-454-0123

sales@smithrx.com

Pharmacy and Provider Line

844-512-3030

info@smithrx.com

Member Help

844-454-5201

help@smithrx.com

M-F 8am - 9pm ET; Saturday 11am - 4pm ET

Company

About

News

Partners

Careers

Resources

Content Hub

Pharmacies

Physicians

Glossary

PBM Evaluation Guide

FAQs

Connect

Recognition

Pharmacy Benefit

Management

02/01/2029

SmithRx is on a mission to reduce the complexity and costs of pharmacy benefits with radical transparency and cutting-edge technology.

Sales and Business

844-454-0123

sales@smithrx.com

Pharmacy and Provider Line

844-512-3030

info@smithrx.com

Member Help

844-454-5201

help@smithrx.com

M-F 8am - 9pm ET; Saturday 11am - 4pm ET

Company

About

News

Partners

Careers

Resources

Content Hub

Pharmacies

Physicians

Glossary

PBM Evaluation Guide

FAQs

Connect

Recognition

Pharmacy Benefit

Management

02/01/2029

SmithRx is on a mission to reduce the complexity and costs of pharmacy benefits with radical transparency and cutting-edge technology.

Sales and Business

844-454-0123

sales@smithrx.com

Pharmacy and Provider Line

844-512-3030

info@smithrx.com

Member Help

844-454-5201

help@smithrx.com

M-F 8am - 9pm ET; Saturday 11am - 4pm ET

Recognition

Pharmacy Benefit

Management

02/01/2029

Company

Resources

Connect

Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Sustainable & Clinically Appropriate GLP-1s at Scale

Maximize Affordability & Health Outcomes

Maximize Affordability & Health Outcomes

Maximize Affordability & Health Outcomes

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Access Low List Price GLP-1s

Holistic, Clinically-Informed Care

Holistic, Clinically-Informed Care

Holistic, Clinically-Informed Care

Proven Weight Loss Success

Proven Weight Loss Success

Proven Weight Loss Success

SmithRx Pharmacy Leadership Team

GLP-1 Resources

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

Building a Cost and Care-Conscious GLP-1 Program

The Impact of FDA-Approved Oral Wegovy on Sustainable Pharmacy Benefits

How Employers Can Optimize Benefits in the Era of GLP-1s

The GLP-1 Breakthrough: What it is, Why it Matters, and How to Drive Health Plan Savings

Frequently Asked Questions

What are GLP-1s?

What are the growth drivers of GLP-1s?

We know GLP-1s are popular, but how are employers and health plans companies responding to the demand?

How are plan sponsors managing the costs of GLP-1s for obesity?

What is the SmithRx Weight Management Program?

Does program participation require a clinical review?

Sales and Business

Pharmacy and Provider Line

Member Help

Company

Resources

Connect

Recognition

Sales and Business

Pharmacy and Provider Line

Member Help

Company

Resources

Connect

Recognition

Sales and Business

Pharmacy and Provider Line

Member Help

Recognition

Frequently Asked   Questions