EHR data reveals GLP-1 RA anti-obesity medication trends in Medicare-aged adults

Truveta Research analyzed GLP-1 RA anti-obesity medication usage in US adults aged 60–69, revealing prescription rates under 1%, with disparities between Medicare-aged and younger adults highlighting access challenges despite Medicare guideline changes.

A recent study conducted by Truveta Research and led by Zeke Emanuel, MD, PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, examined the utilization of GLP-1 RA anti-obesity medications among older adults aged 60–69 in the US. The study specifically targeted individuals without type 2 diabetes who were obese or overweight, and required an outpatient office encounter between June 2021 and January 2024 with a BMI ≥27, a negative history of GLP-1 RA use, and a follow-up ≥60 days later. The investigation, conducted before the implementation of new Medicare guidelines, analyzed the initiation and fulfillment of prescriptions for these medications among two age groups: those aged 65–69 (classified as Medicare-aged adults), and those aged 60–64.

The study utilized de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data from Truveta, which included encounters, prescriptions, conditions, and BMI information. Out of a pool of 413,833 older adults meeting the eligibility criteria, which included 208,067 Medicare-aged adults and 205,766 adults aged 60–64, only a small fraction received prescriptions for anti-obesity GLP-1 RA medications. The study revealed that less than 1% of eligible older adults were prescribed anti-obesity GLP-1 RA medication, with a notably lower proportion among Medicare-aged patients (0.2%) in contrast to individuals aged 60–64 (0.4%).

The study also highlighted a considerable gap between prescription and actual dispensing of these medications, with a significantly lower percentage of Medicare-aged patients (15.2%) receiving their prescribed medication within 60 days compared to their younger counterparts aged 60–64 (22.7%).

The research also showed a disparity in prescribing and dispensing patterns across genders and BMI levels, with females and individuals with higher BMI more likely to receive prescriptions and fulfill them.

---

You may also be interested in:

WEBINAR: Enabling timely comparative effectiveness research: head-to-head analysis of GLP-1s for weight loss – VIEW ON DEMAND

 

 

---

The findings highlight the challenges in accessing medications to address obesity among older adults, particularly within the Medicare population, due to current coverage constraints. Medicare’s limitations on covering medications solely for weight management contribute to the challenge; however, the recent release of new guidelines by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) could potentially ease coverage for anti-obesity medications in specific situations, although not specifically for weight management alone. Medications endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for additional medically accepted purposes, such as reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events, may now be eligible for coverage when prescribed for such purposes, with CMS stating, “CMS has issued guidance to Medicare Part D plans stating that anti-obesity medications (AOMs) that receive FDA approval for an additional medically accepted indication can be considered a Part D drug for that specific use.”