Medicare Covers Obesity Drugs for First Time, Walmart and CVS Step In to Help Patients

Medicare has officially started covering obesity drugs for the first time through a temporary government program – and companies like Walmart and CVS Health are playing an important role for patients.

The huge shift in Medicare policy is going to open up access to millions of older Americans who previously couldn't afford blockbuster GLP-1s from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to treat obesity. But many seniors may not know about this new coverage or how to navigate its complexities, such as eligibility requirements and how it differs from traditional Medicare insurance for drugs, CNBC previously reported.

A staggering 82% of all older Americans said they were unaware that Medicare was about to begin covering obesity drugs, according to a survey released in early June by the Obesity Care Advocacy Network.

Healthcare providers are always a reliable resource for patients, but many Medicare beneficiaries face long waits for appointments with doctors. So, Walmart and CVS Health are trying to step in to fill the gap.

Walmart and Sam's Club last week launched a nationwide effort to help Medicare patients better understand the new coverage, by offering more educational materials, more pharmacy support at almost 5,000 locations and assistance in navigating healthcare resources.

Walmart's website will curate several resources directed at Medicare beneficiaries, including a learning page that will help seniors interested in gaining coverage along with options for weight management support. The company will also provide other digital tools: For example, seniors who are regular Walmart shoppers can join what's called Everyday Health Signals, which can help review their grocery purchases and recommend healthier alternatives.

Those resources are still going to be broadly available for the patients that don't qualify for coverage under the government program, called Bridge, Kevin Host, senior vice president of Walmart Health & Wellness, said in an interview. Walmart is training its pharmacists and technicians, who will be providing one-on-one consultations to help patients understand what their next steps are and can help them manage side effects once they start therapy, Host said.

Pharmacists are "easily the most accessible healthcare professionals," he added. Walmart has 15,000 pharmacists, roughly half of whom have been with the company for more than a decade, Host said.

"You think about the relationships that they're able to establish – we got a pretty significant presence in rural spots, and many are medically underserved communities," he said.

CVS is also ramping up its GLP-1 support across 9,000 pharmacy locations and MinuteClinic, a division that provides retail clinic services, as the new coverage rolls out. The effort includes expanded pharmacy support designed to help patients access the treatments and manage common side effects so they can stay on them, according to a CVS release.

It also includes a new $49 MinuteClinic virtual visit that connects eligible patients with licensed clinicians who can evaluate and prescribe a GLP-1 treatment if appropriate.

"From helping patients manage side effects to identifying ways to lower costs, our pharmacists are there every step of the way," said Sid Tenneti, CVS's interim president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, in the release.

Walmart's Host said amid huge coverage changes, patients are looking for simplicity and experiences that are easier to navigate.

"We think we have the unique ability to help, and we're looking to help with accessibility and affordability," he said. "We're leveraging our trusted healthcare professionals, those pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and just bringing in everyday convenience at a national scale that very few organizations can match."