With Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge program going into effect next week, Walmart is rolling out new supports aimed at helping beneficiaries understand their weight management options.
Through its new initiative, Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies will offer educational materials on weight management, including details on prescription coverage pathways and resources that may be available to them. This includes one-on-one consultations with pharmacists who can discuss next steps.
Walmart customers can secure assistance in navigating government options as well as other resources, the company said in an announcement, which will become especially crucial as the Bridge model comes online.
Under Bridge, eligible Medicare Part D enrollees can purchase certain GLP-1 drugs at a $50 copayment. The demonstration will run from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2027, with the federal government subsidizing the cost. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services delayed another GLP-focused model following skepticism from insurers.
Kevin Host, senior vice president of health and wellness for Walmart, told Fierce Healthcare that the company operates about 4,600 pharmacies at Walmart stores across 49 states and Puerto Rico, with 4,000 of those locations in underserved areas.
That positions the team well to reach a wide array of people who may need help in navigating Medicare's new GLP-1 coverage options, he said. This is particularly true, he said, as in many in rural or underserved regions may lack access to a pharmacy or physician.Â
"Our Walmart mantra is just helping people save money and live better," Host said. "A lot of pharmacies are closing across the country [...] and many of them are closing in these more vulnerable communities. In some cases, we're the only pharmacy in some of these communities."
Through the program, customers can learn more about their coverage options through digital tools, too. In April, Walmart announced that it would build out the weight management services available through its Better Care Services platform, which connects users to virtual care, nutrition and pharmacy programs in a one-stop shop.
The new offering works in tandem with the expansion of Better Care Services' options to provide a suite of solutions for individuals taking GLP-1s.
Host said that the support tools are designed to meet members where they are in a weight management journey. Some may only need a consultation conversation, while others may need more hands-on options.
For example, he said that customers can connect to Walmart's Everyday Health Signals tool, which, when members consent and opt-in, tracks their shopping habits and offers healthier alternatives to choose from. The program also includes a Nutrition Hub, offering healthy recipes.
Individuals who connect to the Nutrition Hub can have all the necessary ingredients added to their carts online automatically, making the shopping experience simpler, Host said.
In addition, when a patient reaches the point where they need or want medication therapy, Walmart can help them find a primary care provider if necessary, he said.
"And once they're prescribed a therapy, of course, our pharmacists are there," he said.