Drugstores Report Increased Prescriptions for Medicare Obesity Drug Program

Why it matters locally: As major drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens report high prescription volumes for the new Medicare obesity drug program, Rhode Island's significant Medicare beneficiary population stands to be directly affected by the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of these medications.

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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.