Thanks to the executive team at Novo Nordisk, I spoke this week to an Obesity Treatment Advisory Board in Chicago. Clinicians, PharmDs and other industry experts met up to talk discuss the latest and greatest in obesity management. I’ve been studying and speaking on this topic for years, but this time in particular I walked away really feeling the enormity of the task ahead when it comes to this topic.
Highly credentialed physicians with storied practice and research careers were very open and honest about the challenges that face us as an industry and society. I attempted to bring a different perspective to the room – that of the self-funded employer/payer. I talked about where the money is being spent today, and why the conversation has shifted somewhat away from chronic disease. When I meet with employers, large claims and specialty Rx take up much of the available “oxygen in the room” – as these have wildly increased in cost/severity as a percentage of an employer’s overall spend each year.