They do not replace levothyroxine
Covers Saxenda for patients meeting specific criteria with annual caps of $2,500-4,500
This includes a complete metabolic panel, fasting insulin, HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipid panel (complete with LDL particle count if available), IGF-1, growth hormone levels (random and stimulated if possible), liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), kidney function markers (creatinine, BUN, eGFR), complete blood count, and thyroid panel
The choice between them for autoimmune applications is not settled
JAMA Netw Open 7, e2416578 (2024)
For patients with BMI 30 or 27 with comorbidities, FDA-approved pharmacotherapy may be appropriate alongside lifestyle modification