Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists offer significant promise to patients with obesity, and newer drugs can help them shed more than one-quarter of their body weight in some cases. But many adults in the US who have this chronic disease aren’t staying on GLP-1s long enough to see a “clinically meaningful health benefit,” a recent study from Blue Health Intelligence (BHI) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association found.

Some 58% of patients discontinue these medications within 12 weeks, according to the findings, which are based on data from more than 170,000 commercial health plan members dating back to 2014. Research has shown patients taking GLP-1s should “complete at least 12 weeks of continuous treatment” in order to see clinically meaningful results, i.e., at least a 5% weight loss, according to the study.

Most patients in the study (79%) were female, and 42% lived in the Northeast. Over half of the patients received their prescription from a primary care provider, and nearly two-thirds were categorized as “low” for social vulnerability, which is a metric that assesses a community’s vulnerability through external factors like sociodemographic status.

The study states barriers like cost, transportation, and language as factors may inhibit some patients’ ability to continue GLP-1 medications. Ongoing shortages of GLP-1 drugs may also hinder access.

A separate paper recently published in JAMA found 26% of patients discontinued GLP-1s within three months, while about 37% stopped treatment within a year.

Keep reading here.—CV

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US News & World Report released its first-ever list of the best hospitals for equitable access on Wednesday, recognizing providers that prioritize caring for patients from underserved populations.

Access to hospitals doesn’t just help maintain health, it can also prevent disease and early death. For example, according to the CDC, about 100,000 lives could be saved in the US each year with preventive care measures. Yet low-income individuals and people of color often lack access to the care they need.

US News identified 53 hospitals in 26 states (drawn from the 2023 US News’s Best Regional Hospitals list) that it says “provide certain vulnerable populations with substantial access to high-quality care.” Hospitals had to meet at least two of the following criteria to make the list:

• 40% or more of its patients had to be from “a community of greater socioeconomic deprivation”
• 20% or more of its patients had to identify as a racial/ethnic minority
• 20% or more of its patients had to be enrolled in Medicaid

“This positive representation of community hospitals’ dedication to equitable access across 26 states is promising,” Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at US News, said in a press release. “However, this recognition also underscores the need for continued focus on prioritizing healthcare among vulnerable populations who may face numerous social and economic challenges in receiving care.”

Keep reading here.—CM

New York is the first state to mandate that employers provide paid prenatal leave to their workforces.

The new policy—an amendment to New York’s already existing sick leave provisions in the state’s labor law—was passed as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s FY 2025 executive budget bill. It requires all New York State employers to give workers 20 hours of paid prenatal leave annually; the leave may be used for services related to an employee’s pregnancy, such as physical exams or medical procedures.

Paid prenatal leave must be offered in addition to New York’s paid “sick and safe” leave, under which employers must grant workers up to 40 or up to 56 hours of time off per year, depending on their size.

Keep reading here.—CV

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