GLP-1 Growth, AI Super MD, Weight Loss Saves Life...Duh

Hey all,

Happy hump day! I’m reading a lot about the clinical prowess of AI these days. I'm reminded of how static physician knowledge is. I’m constantly educating physicians during my appointments and it is not because I am exceptionally smart. I just read more research and clinical case studies than many practicing physicians. 

Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(BenefitsPro) Employer Coverage of GLP-1 Drugs Increases

A new survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans reveals that 36% of U.S. employers now cover GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy for both weight loss and diabetes, while diabetes-only coverage dipped slightly to 55%, reflecting growing demand for these high-cost treatments. As GLP-1s now make up over 10% of total claims—with 27% of employers saying they eat up more than 15% of annual costs—most are turning to strict utilization rules to manage spending. Just don’t mistake “coverage” for easy access—96% require prior auth and 26% make you ask twice, because nothing says “we’ve got you” like paperwork and waiting. Full Article.

(Harvard) AI Shows Superhuman Clinical Reasoning Skills

Researchers evaluated the clinical reasoning skills of OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Claude Opus on USMLE-style questions from AMBOSS and NBME and found that both models performed at or above the level of a newly licensed U.S. physician. The study used standardized medical licensing questions that emphasized reasoning over memorization and found that GPT-4 achieved a 91.4% accuracy rate on NBME items, outperforming most human test-takers, while also providing high-quality explanations. And while AI still can’t hold your hand, at least it won’t roll its eyes when you ask a follow-up question. Full Article

(JAMA) Weight Loss in Midlife, Chronic Disease Incidence, and All-Cause Mortality During Extended Follow-Up

A large cohort study of over 23,000 people followed for up to 35 years found that sustained weight loss from overweight to healthy BMI during midlife (ages 40-50) was associated with significantly reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, as well as lower all-cause mortality compared to those who remained overweight. The benefits persisted even when diabetes was excluded from the analysis, and the effects were replicated across three independent European cohorts with follow-up periods much longer than typical weight loss studies. If GLP-1 drug prices come down it’ll make the ROI math work for everyone who qualifies…except in the screwed up US system. Full Article