Walgreens Adds Pharmacist Outreach, Coverage Help for GLP-1s

Walgreens is expanding its weight management services to help eligible patients navigate coverage for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists prescribed for weight loss. The additions include virtual care support for commercial insurance checks, prior authorization (PA), and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, as well as pharmacist outreach after prescription pickup for patients who start filling a GLP-1. The outreach targets a well-documented weak point in obesity care: keeping patients on therapy.¹

Addressing Early Discontinuation

"Staying on a GLP-1 medication can be challenging for many patients," said Rick Gates, BSPharm, chief pharmacy and external affairs officer at Walgreens, in the announcement. Gates noted that more than half of patients who begin GLP-1 therapy for weight management stop within a year, which he said points to a need for ongoing support, affordability solutions, and easier access to care.¹

That figure comes from a retrospective cohort study of 125,474 adults with overweight or obesity who started liraglutide (Saxenda; Novo), semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy; Novo), or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound; Eli Lilly and Company) between 2018 and 2023.

Overall, 53.6% discontinued by 1 year. Discontinuation was higher among patients without type 2 diabetes (64.8%) than among those with type 2 diabetes (46.5%). Greater on-treatment weight loss was associated with a lower likelihood of stopping, whereas moderate or severe gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events were associated with a higher likelihood. Adverse effects and cost were the most frequently documented reasons for discontinuation in clinical notes.²

Virtual Care and Coverage Navigation

Through Walgreens Weight Management, patients can connect online with a physician or nurse practitioner and, if eligible, receive a prescription for an FDA-approved GLP-1 for weight loss. Visits cost $49 with no subscription required, and medication cost is not included. Patients already taking a GLP-1 for weight loss can also use the virtual clinicians to support ongoing treatment. The service can now check commercial prescription coverage and complete PAs when needed.¹

Patients eligible for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge can use the virtual providers for help with eligibility, prior authorizations (PAs), and setting up a treatment plan. Virtual weight management is available in every state except Alabama. For Bridge patients, it is also unavailable in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Services are not offered in Puerto Rico.¹

The Bridge, a CMS demonstration running from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, operates outside the standard Part D benefit and carries a $50 monthly copay. It covers semaglutide (Wegovy) injection and tablets, the tirzepatide (Zepbound) KwikPen, and orforglipron (Foundayo; Eli Lilly and Company) tablets.

Patients with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and several other conditions are excluded and remain on their regular Part D pathway. Because the first Bridge claim is expected to reject and trigger the PA request, pharmacy staff should explain that step so patients do not assume their medication is not covered.³

Pharmacist Follow-Up After Pickup

After pickup, Walgreens pharmacists will contact patients who start filling a GLP-1 to answer common questions, share educational resources, and connect them with additional support. A new online hub lists treatment options and costs, manufacturer savings card information through Rx Savings Finder, and products to relieve nausea, dehydration, and other GI adverse effects.¹

Gates described this kind of patient-facing work as part of a broader shift in how Walgreens deploys its pharmacists. Discussing the company's hybrid pharmacist role in an April 2026 interview with Pharmacy Times, he said pharmacists working in centralized settings handle tasks including "outreach to patients, medication therapy management, and similar services where we're really working to help patients achieve their outcomes." The announcement does not specify whether the GLP-1 outreach will be conducted from stores or centralized sites.^1,4

For pharmacists, the cohort findings suggest where early conversations may matter most: setting expectations about weight loss and managing GI adverse effects before they lead patients to stop. Pharmacists enrolling patients through the Bridge should also prepare them now for the program's December 2027 end date, because Congress has not changed the statutory exclusion of obesity drugs from Part D.^2,3

REFERENCES

1. Walgreens expands access to weight management care and introduces new GLP-1 support services. News release. Walgreens. October 27, 2026. Accessed October 27, 2026. https://corporate.walgreens.com/news-and-stories/press-releases/pharmacy-healthcare/walgreens-expands-access-to-weight-management-care-and-introduces-new-glp-1-support-services/

2. Rodriguez PJ, Zhang V, Gratzl S, et al. Discontinuation and reinitiation of dual-labeled GLP-1 receptor agonists among US adults with overweight or obesity. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(1):e2457349. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57349

3. Chammout M. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge runs outside Part D and pharmacy teams need a different workflow. Pharmacy Times. October 26, 2026. Accessed October 27, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/medicare-glp-1-bridge-runs-outside-part-d-and-pharmacy-teams-need-a-different-workflow

4. Gates R, Ferruggia K. From burnout to balance: how Walgreens' hybrid model is addressing the pharmacy. Pharmacy Times. April 17, 2026. Accessed October 27, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/from-burnout-to-balance-how-walgreens-hybrid-model-is-addressing-the-pharmacy