THE MEDICARE GLP-1 BRIDGE

In December 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced two major initiatives to expand access to obesity management medications for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries: the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program and the BALANCE (Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive Health) Model. CMS has announced an indefinite delay of the BALANCE Model’s Medicare Part D component due to insufficient plan participation. The Bridge program, a temporary demonstration program, that will provide obesity medication coverage from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. Learn more here.