News & updates
What’s changing in the program, with dated sources and corrections. For the sunset question specifically, see the extension tracker.
When an initial Bridge rejection is a request for PA
2026-08-20
CMS’s prescriber guidance describes the initial pharmacy claim as the step that requests PA; check the actual response before treating it as final.
Meeting the clinical criteria is not the same as qualifying
2026-08-20
Any GLP-1 filled through Part D this year disqualifies you. So does the wrong kind of Medicare plan. Four eligibility rules that sit outside the BMI tiers and catch people by surprise.
Bridge launch rules to check before your first fill
2026-07-21
The Bridge began July 1, 2026. CMS guidance explains the pharmacy-first PA process, formulation restrictions and separate copay rules.
What KFF’s 3.8 million estimate does and does not show
2026-07-21
KFF’s June 29, 2026 analysis uses 2023 Medicare claims and assumes unchanged diagnosis and GLP-1 use for potential 2026 eligibility.
Where the extension question stands, July 2026
2026-07-21
The program runs through December 2027; nothing beyond that is promised. Our read of the policy landscape — BALANCE's stall, the cost obstacle, and what would actually have to change.