Ozempic. Wegovy. Mounjaro.
It’s hard to go a day without hearing about these drugs—on the news, in celebrity interviews, or in conversations about the future of medicine. But while the spotlight has largely focused on rapid weight loss and blockbuster demand, the more important question is this: how do we integrate GLP-1s into healthcare in a way that actually improves outcomes without blowing up budgets?
As someone leading a company grounded in value-based care and advanced primary care plus (APC+), I believe we’re at a crossroads. GLP-1 medications are a promising breakthrough—but only if we treat them as part of a broader strategy, not the strategy itself.
GLP-1s: The Promise
Originally developed for managing Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists are now being hailed as a revolution in obesity treatment and chronic disease prevention. Clinical trials have shown not just dramatic weight loss, but cardiovascular and metabolic benefits as well.
In a landmark 2023 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, overweight patients without diabetes who took semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) saw a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke.¹
Demand has surged. According to Trilliant Health, over 9 million GLP-1 prescriptions were written in Q2 2023 alone—a 300% increase since 2020.²
These aren’t niche medications anymore. They’re reshaping expectations about how we treat some of the most common—and costly—conditions in America.
The Problem: Cost Without a Plan
But with widespread interest comes a financial dilemma. GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy can cost upwards of $12,000 per year per patient. And while the medications are FDA-approved for both diabetes and obesity, many employer-sponsored plans still only cover them for diabetes management.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found that most employers are struggling to decide whether to cover GLP-1s for weight loss at all—despite overwhelming demand from employees.³
Meanwhile, the Business Group on Health’s 2024 survey revealed that half of large employers list GLP-1 cost management as one of their top healthcare challenges this year.⁴
When employers rush to cover a medication without the infrastructure to support it, the result is predictable: skyrocketing costs, minimal oversight, and poor long-term adherence.
What Value-Based Care Can Offer
This is where the healthcare industry must slow down and ask: what is the sustainable path forward?
The answer isn’t to block access to GLP-1s—but to surround them with care. That means pairing the prescription with nutrition coaching, behavioral support, metabolic monitoring, and longitudinal care—all of which fall squarely within the mission of Advanced Primary Care.
In fact, we already know that Advanced Primary Care (APC) delivers measurable results. Models like Iora Health’s—which emphasize team-based care, dedicated health coaches, and strong patient-provider relationships—have shown significant improvements in patient outcomes. According to the Commonwealth Fund, Iora’s approach led to better management of chronic conditions, improved patient satisfaction, and reductions in unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.⁵ These results echo what we’ve seen across other APC programs: when primary care is proactive, coordinated, and relationship-driven, the downstream impact is both clinical and financial.
GLP-1s may jumpstart weight loss. But only APC can help patients sustain results—and improve whole-person health in the process.
A Smarter Approach for Employers
At Apaly, we work with employers that are exploring how to offer GLP-1s in a financially responsible, clinically sound way. Our recommendation is clear: don’t start with the drug—start with the care model.
By leading with primary care, employers can:
- Identify which patients are appropriate candidates for GLP-1 therapy
- Support adherence with check-ins, coaching, and real-time data
- Blend in non-pharmaceutical interventions like diet, exercise, and sleep support
- Evaluate outcomes across populations to guide future coverage decisions
This approach creates value—because it treats the person, not just the prescription.
Conclusion: Don’t Mistake the Tool for the Plan
GLP-1s are here to stay, and they offer an exciting opportunity to tackle some of the most persistent health challenges of our time. But they are not a silver bullet. Like any tool, they’re only as effective as the system that supports them.
If we want to realize the full promise of GLP-1s—while keeping healthcare sustainable and equitable—we need to view them not as a standalone solution but as part of a value-based, whole-person care strategy. That’s the future we’re building toward.
And it starts with rethinking what real care looks like.
Sources:
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
- https://www.trillianthealth.com/hubfs/2023%20Trends%20Shaping%20the%20Health%20Economy%20Report.pdf?
- https://www.kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2023-section-9-prescription-drug-benefits/
- https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/en/resources/2024-large-employer-health-care-strategy-survey-full-report
- https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2016/mar/focus-redesigning-primary-care-those-who-need-it-most
