A new study reveals troubling disparities in access to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), medications increasingly prescribed for diabetes and obesity. Researchers found that Black and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to fill prescriptions for these drugs compared to white patients, despite having higher rates of the conditions they treat.
Analyzing nearly 10,000 GLP-1RA orders from the University of Colorado Health system, the study showed that only 55.3% of Black patients and 58.4% of Hispanic patients filled their prescriptions, compared to 60.9% of white patients. The gap persisted even among those with insurance.
Out-of-pocket costs varied widely. Black patients paid an average of $41.15 per 30-day supply, while Hispanic patients paid $63.69—both lower than the $78.37 paid by white patients. Yet lower costs did not translate into higher fill rates, suggesting that other barriers, such as insurance coverage limitations or systemic inequities, may be at play.
Patients with obesity alone faced the steepest financial burden, paying nearly twice as much as those with diabetes. The study’s authors note that insurance often excludes coverage for obesity treatment, leaving many patients with few affordable options.
With 40% of all GLP-1RA prescriptions going unfilled, the findings underscore the need for policy reforms to ensure equitable access to these medications, especially for communities disproportionately affected by diabetes and obesity.
See: “GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Order Fills and Out-of-Pocket Costs by Race, Ethnicity, and Indication” (October 10, 2025)
