Obesity is a chronic disease that often requires long-term treatment to achieve and maintain meaningful health outcomes. Interruptions in therapy can negatively affect disease management, patient adherence, and continuity of care.
Beginning July 1, 2026, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will operate the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a short-term demonstration intended to provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 medications for weight management. The demonstration is scheduled to run through December 31, 2027.
Health care professionals should review CMS eligibility criteria, covered products, prior authorization requirements, and patient support resources to help identify patients who may qualify. Providers may submit prior authorization requests beginning July 1, 2026; requests will not be accepted or processed before that date.
Proactive discussions with patients about coverage changes, access barriers, and documentation needs may help reduce treatment interruptions and support continuity of care.
The resources below provide additional information on program eligibility, covered medications, enrollment and prior authorization processes, patient assistance, and frequently asked questions.
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
- Payer Sheet
- CMS Prescriber Fact Sheet
- Prior Authorization Request Form
- Information for Providers
- Information for Part D Plans
- OCAN Webinar on Medicare GLP-1 Access
AACE will continue to advocate for a long-term solution to ensure sustained access to GLP-1 therapies for Medicare beneficiaries beyond the 18-month demonstration period.