When the Trump administration announced that it struck a deal with two major GLP-1 manufacturers last month, it was unclear how soon discounts on the weight loss drugs would extend to workers on employer-sponsored insurance. The White House is working with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to offer cheaper GLP-1s to patients enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as those who want to purchase the medications without insurance. But employers are keen to understand how soon such discounts may extend to their own medical plans, especially if they aren’t already covering the popular drugs. “Once you have publicity around a Medicare price, I think the demand for a price that is close to that level is going to be really high,” Caroline Pearson, executive director of the Peterson Health Technology Institute, said. The White House said patients will be able to purchase GLP-1s on the direct-to-consumer market for around $350, while Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access them with a $50 co-pay. Historically, these medications have cost upwards of $1,000 a month. As demand for the drugs remains high, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk recently embraced new models that seek to bypass pharmacy benefit managers and make GLP-1 coverage more financially feasible for employers. Keep reading on HR Brew.—CV | 
