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Commentary|Podcasts|October 20, 2026
Patients Open to Lower-Cost Weight Maintenance to Expand GLP-1 Access
Author(s)Brooke McCormick, A. Mark Fendrick, MD
Fact checked by: Laura Joszt, MA
Mark Fendrick, MD, discusses survey findings on deprescribing GLP-1 RAs after weight loss as the CMS GLP-1 Bridge Model nears expiration.
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The study found that most surveyed individuals with
Demand for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) has soared as coverage has narrowed amid budget concerns. Building on modeling by David D. Kim, PhD, of the University of Chicago, Fendrick and his team reasoned that these drugs offer the greatest benefit during active weight loss. At the same time, much of the cost accumulates during full-dose maintenance.
They proposed
More than 80% of respondents supported lower-cost maintenance options, and nearly 90% would support a loved one switching to expand access. Fendrick attributed this support partly to declining coverage. Respondents’ primary concerns were adverse events and weight regain. Fendrick argued that clinically guided step-down decisions are preferable to the time limits and spending caps many payers impose. Respondents also prioritized medically tailored meals, nutrition support, gym memberships, and reduced dosing, which Fendrick said underscores the need for payers to offer multiple options for weight maintenance.
He connected the findings to the
Looking ahead, Fendrick identified 3 paths to affordability: falling drug prices, lower-cost maintenance strategies, and redirecting spending from low-value health care services.
“…if we don’t start paying attention to the things that we do pay for that are far less clinically valuable than things that we’re restricting, we’re going to be in a more complicated, confusing, and importantly frustrating health care system for the patients we’re trying to serve,” he concluded.
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