Drugstores Report Increased Prescriptions for Medicare Obesity Drug Program

Why it matters locally: The Bridge program will affect an estimated 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in Arizona, providing them with access to obesity medications at a reduced cost. This initiative could ease the financial burden for many seniors in the state seeking treatment for obesity.

---

Drugstore chains CVS and Walgreens have each dispensed 100,000 prescriptions under a new Medicare initiative. The program, known as Bridge, launched on July 1. It provides certain Medicare beneficiaries access to obesity medications for a monthly cost of $50. The Bridge program aims to increase access to specific obesity drugs for eligible Medicare participants. CVS and Walgreens began processing these prescriptions shortly after the program's implementation.