ROCKVILLE, MD – September 18, 2026 – H.H.C. Group (H.H.C.), a leader in reducing healthcare expenditures through cost containment and independent review solutions, announces new recommendations for employers and TPAs seeking to manage the growing financial impact of GLP-1 medications as healthcare costs approach double-digit increases and pharmacy spending draws greater C-suite scrutiny.
New projections from Aon estimate employer healthcare costs could rise 9.5% in 2027, pushing average per-employee spending above $19,000. At the same time, the Business Group on Health reports that 88% of employers say senior leadership is paying closer attention to healthcare costs and health and wellbeing programs, while 79% say C-suite expectations around results are increasing.
"For many employers, the question is no longer simply whether to cover GLP-1s, but how to make that coverage clinically appropriate and financially sustainable," says Bruce D. Roffé, P.D., M.S., H.I.A., a registered pharmacist and president and CEO, H.H.C. Group. "Broad exclusions may reduce pharmacy spending in the short term, but a stronger strategy considers who is most likely to benefit, whether treatment is producing meaningful results and what is happening to the member's total cost of care."
H.H.C. Group recommends that TPAs and self-funded plans consider defined eligibility and continuation criteria, participation in structured weight-management programs, ongoing clinical monitoring and periodic reassessment of treatment effectiveness.
The growing use of GLP-1s also creates an opportunity for TPAs to play a larger role in pharmacy strategy. Employers increasingly expect greater transparency into PBM economics, rebates, utilization and outcomes, even when the pharmacy benefit is administered separately. TPAs can help clients evaluate whether current arrangements are delivering measurable value and identify opportunities for stronger data access, contracting and clinical oversight.Long-term utilization may be particularly important as treatment expands across obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and other chronic conditions.
"The financial challenge is often not the initiation of therapy, but indefinite continuation," Roffé says. "Plans should be looking at whether members are achieving meaningful clinical benefit and whether that benefit translates into lower hospital utilization, fewer complications and reduced medical spending elsewhere. A costly therapy may still represent good value when it improves outcomes and lowers total healthcare costs. The goal is not simply to spend less on GLP-1s—it is to spend appropriately."
About H.H.C. Group
Dedicated to significantly reducing medical claims costs through claim negotiation, repricing and medical bill review, H.H.C. Group is a national healthcare cost-containment leader serving self-funded healthcare payors, TPAS, stop-loss carriers/captives, unions and insurers. Serving the Group Health, Workers Compensation and Auto-Health markets, H.H.C. Group delivers timely, customizable solutions and proven savings. Committed to integrity and compliance, URAC-accredited H.H.C. Group stands out as a trusted partner for reducing healthcare costs and ensuring quality outcomes.
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