Scott Benner Scott Benner

Understanding the New Federal Direct-to-Consumer Drug Portal (TrumpRx.gov)

The federal government has launched a new Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) drug pricing website called TrumpRx.gov. The platform is designed primarily for cash-pay medication purchases, helping people find lower prices without using insurance.

It’s being promoted as part of a broader push toward “Most-Favored-Nation” (MFN) pricing — meaning certain U.S. drug prices are being aligned more closely with what patients pay in other developed countries.

This has gotten a lot of attention, but the important part is how it actually works and what the trade-offs are.

What Website Actually Is

TrumpRx.gov is not a pharmacy. It does not dispense medication, hold inventory, or employ pharmacists.

Instead, it functions as a federal pricing portal that helps consumers locate discounted cash-pay options by routing them into existing private-sector systems.

How the Portal Works (Two Main Paths)

1) Pharmacy Coupon Discounts (Primarily Generics)

For many common medications (especially generics), TrumpRx.gov displays cash prices and generates pharmacy discount coupons using GoodRx infrastructure.

That means you may receive a coupon you can use at major retail pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, etc.), similar to how GoodRx works elsewhere.

You present the coupon at the counter and pay the discounted cash price.

2) Discounted Brand-Name Prices Through Manufacturer Channels

For certain expensive brand-name drugs, the portal lists “starting at” prices and provides links that route patients into manufacturer-supported purchasing pathways (often involving partner mail-order pharmacies or direct-purchase programs).

You are still paying cash, but at a lower price than typical U.S. retail list pricing.

“Most-Favored-Nation” Drug List (Currently ~40+ Drugs)

The portal includes a featured MFN list of about 40 drugs (currently 43 listed at launch) with heavily reduced “spot prices.”

These prices are framed as voluntary manufacturer discounts intended to reflect what other wealthy nations pay.

Verified Pricing (As Listed Publicly)

Pricing can vary by formulation, strength, package size, and promotions, but examples publicly associated with the portal include:

🩺 Weight Loss & Diabetes

  • Wegovy® Pill – $149.00

  • Wegovy® Pen – $199.00

  • Ozempic® Pen – $199.00

  • Zepbound® – $299.00

  • Xigduo® XR – $181.59

  • Farxiga® – $181.59

  • Insulin Lispro – $25.00

🤰 Fertility & Women’s Health

  • Cetrotide® – $22.50

  • Gonal-F® – $168.00

  • Ovidrel® – $84.00

  • Duavee® – $30.30

  • Estring® – $249.00

  • Premarin® – $99.00

  • Premarin® Vaginal Cream – $236.65

  • Prempro® – $98.84

  • Toviaz® – $43.50

🌬 Respiratory

  • Airsupra® – $201.00

  • Bevespi® Aerosphere – $51.00

🧬 Autoimmune, Inflammation & Pain

  • Abrilada® – $207.60

  • Azulfidine® – $99.60

  • Azulfidine® EN-Tabs – $130.80

  • Cortef® – $45.00

  • Eucrisa® – $158.48

  • Medrol® – $3.15

  • Xeljanz® – $1,518.00

  • Zavzpret® – $594.84

🦠 Infectious Disease

  • Cleocin® – $36.56

  • Diflucan® – $14.06

  • Vfend® – $306.98

  • Viracept® – $607.20

  • Zyvox® – $122.74

🧬 Growth Hormone Disorders

  • Genotropin® – $89.67

  • Ngenla® – $2,217.00

❤️ Cardiovascular & Cholesterol

  • Colestid® – $67.20

  • Lopid® – $39.60

  • Tikosyn® – $336.00

🧠 Mental Health & Neurology

  • Pristiq® – $200.10

  • Zarontin® – $71.10

🚭 Smoking Cessation

  • Chantix® – $94.34

  • Nicotrol® – $271.16

🧪 Endocrine & Other

  • Cytomel® – $6.00

  • Levoxyl® – $35.10

  • Protonix® – $200.10

Can You Use TrumpRx.gov If You Have Insurance?

Yes — but it generally functions as an alternative to your insurance, not an add-on.

The “Either/Or” Rule

At the pharmacy, you usually must choose one:

  • Use your insurance copay
    OR

  • Use the TrumpRx / coupon cash price

This is similar to how GoodRx and other discount cards work. You typically cannot stack a discount coupon on top of an insurance copay.

The Most Important Catch: Deductibles

If you use TrumpRx.gov pricing, you are generally paying outside your insurance system.

That means your spending typically does not count toward your:

  • annual deductible

  • out-of-pocket maximum

Why this matters

If you have a $3,000 deductible and spend $200/month through TrumpRx.gov, you may spend $2,400 over the year — but your deductible may still show as $0 met, because the insurer never processed the claim.

This doesn’t affect everyone equally, but it’s a key trade-off.

Who This Portal Helps Most (Based on Current Structure)

1) Uninsured People

If you have no prescription coverage, discounted cash pricing can create immediate and significant savings.

2) People Buying Fertility Medications

Fertility drugs are often not covered by insurance, so discounted cash prices represent real savings with fewer trade-offs.

3) People Whose Insurance Excludes a Drug

For example, many plans exclude GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. If your insurer won’t cover them, a stabilized cash price (instead of full list price) may make treatment more realistic.

Bottom Line

TrumpRx.gov is best understood as a government-run discount pricing portal that routes patients to:

  • GoodRx-style retail coupons (often for generics)

  • discounted manufacturer-supported cash purchase options (often for high-cost brand drugs)

It may offer major savings for some people — especially those who are uninsured or denied coverage — but insured users should compare prices carefully and understand the deductible/out-of-pocket trade-off.

This article and pricing information was originally compiled by Google Gemini, which was instructed to source only publicly available, verifiable information and present it in a neutral, non-partisan way. That Gemini-generated report was then provided to ChatGPT for a secondary review and deeper verification process, including cross-checking drug names, pricing, and category listings against the live TrumpRx.gov portal and additional reputable reporting. The goal of this two-step approach was to reduce errors, avoid political framing, and ensure the information shared here reflects the clearest available facts as of the portal’s February 2026 launch.

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Scott Benner Scott Benner

The Other Pandemic: Why the WHO is Sounding the Alarm on a Global Crisis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), we are no longer just "gaining weight"—we are in the midst of a structural health collapse that affects 1 in 8 people on the planet.

The WHO’s latest fact sheet on obesity isn't just a collection of numbers; it is a red alert. Here is what the data says, why it matters, and the aggressive "Acceleration Plan" the world is launching to fight back by 2030.

The Numbers: A Doubling of the Disease

If you feel like obesity is more common now than when you were a child, you aren't imagining it. The WHO data reveals a staggering generational shift:

  • Adults: Since 1990, worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled. As of 2022, over 890 million adults are living with obesity.

  • Children & Adolescents: The statistics here are even more alarming. Adolescent obesity has quadrupled since 1990. Today, over 390 million young people (aged 5–19) are overweight, setting them up for a lifetime of chronic health battles.

  • The "Double Burden": Perhaps the most tragic finding is that obesity is no longer just a "rich country" problem. Low- and middle-income countries are now facing a "double burden"—struggling with undernutrition and infectious diseases while simultaneously facing a rapid rise in obesity due to cheap, processed foods.

The Cause: It’s Not Willpower, It’s the Environment

For decades, the narrative around weight was simple: "Eat less, move more." The WHO explicitly rejects this outdated view.

The fact sheet defines obesity as a chronic, complex disease driven by "obesogenic environments." It’s not that people suddenly lost their willpower in 1990; it’s that our world changed. Global shifts in food systems have made energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods the cheapest and most accessible options. When you combine this with sedentary work and urban planning that discourages movement, you create a perfect storm that biology cannot easily fight.

The Future: The 2030 Acceleration Plan

So, what is the plan? Recognizing that we are off track, the World Health Assembly endorsed the "Acceleration Plan to STOP Obesity." This is the roadmap for the next five years, and it shifts the focus from individual dieting to systemic policy change.

The Goal: The immediate target is to halt the rise of diabetes and obesity by 2030.

The Strategy: The WHO is pushing member states to implement "Best Buys"—policies that are proven to work but often face industry resistance:

  1. Sugar Taxes: Fiscal policies to make sugary drinks and unhealthy foods more expensive.

  2. Marketing Restrictions: Banning the advertising of high-fat, high-sugar foods to children.

  3. Front-of-Pack Labeling: Clear warning labels that cut through marketing buzzwords.

  4. Primary Care Integration: Moving obesity treatment out of expensive specialty clinics and into standard primary care.

The Economic Ticking Clock

If health arguments don't move policymakers, money will. The economic forecast is grim: if current trends continue, the global cost of overweight and obesity is predicted to reach $3 trillion per year by 2030 and a staggering $18 trillion by 2060. This includes healthcare costs and lost productivity, a bill that could cripple developing economies.

Where Do Pills Fit In?

Interestingly, the WHO released new guidelines in December 2025 regarding GLP-1 therapies (like Wegovy). Their stance? Cautious optimism. They recognize these drugs are powerful tools for treatment, but they warn that they are not a silver bullet for prevention.

We cannot medicate our way out of a bad food system. The future of global health depends on a two-pronged approach: using advanced therapies for those who are already sick, while aggressively changing the laws and environments to stop the next generation from getting sick in the first place.

Sources and Further Reading

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Scott Benner Scott Benner

The Wegovy Pill Arrives and Ignites the Next Phase of the Obesity Treatment Wars

For the past few years, the cultural conversation around obesity has been dominated by a weekly ritual: the injection. Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have fundamentally shifted how we treat chronic weight management, offering efficacy previously only seen with bariatric surgery. But for millions of people, the barrier of a weekly needle—no matter how small—remained significant.

That barrier just crumbled.

In a watershed moment for metabolic medicine, the FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® pill, the first-ever high-dose oral GLP-1 specifically for weight loss in adults. This isn't just a new delivery method; it's the opening salvo in a fierce, forward-looking battle between pharma giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to define the future of metabolic health.

Here is a look at the new pill, and why it’s just the beginning of an intense innovation race over the next few years.

The Wegovy Pill: Matching the Shot without the Sting

The holy grail of GLP-1 research has long been creating a pill that works as well as the injections. The stomach is a hostile environment for complex biological drugs like semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic), making oral delivery notoriously difficult.

According to the data supporting its approval, Novo Nordisk has cracked the code.

The FDA approval was based on the pivotal OASIS 4 phase 3 trial. The results showed that the once-daily Wegovy pill is not a watered-down version of its injectable counterpart. It is a powerhouse on its own.

  • The Data: In the trial, adults taking the Wegovy pill achieved an average weight loss of approximately 14%regardless of adherence. For those who stayed on the treatment consistently, the average loss was nearly 17% over 64 weeks.

  • The Comparison: These numbers are strikingly similar to the results seen in the original clinical trials for the weekly Wegovy injection.

  • The Timeline: Novo Nordisk has moved quickly, with the pill launching in the US in early January 2026.

For patients, this means the choice between an injection and a pill is no longer about sacrificing efficacy for convenience. They are now functionally equivalent options.

The Future Outlook: The Arms Race Heats Up

While the Wegovy pill is a massive victory for Novo Nordisk today, the landscape of 2026 and beyond is advancing rapidly. Both Novo Nordisk and its main rival, Eli Lilly, are deep into late-stage testing of next-generation therapies designed to be even more potent or easier to take.

The goal for both companies is clear: move beyond just GLP-1 and target multiple hormone receptors simultaneously to supercharge metabolism and improve glucose control.

Novo Nordisk’s Next Moves: Doubling Down

Novo Nordisk is seeking to defend its lead by maximizing the potential of semaglutide and introducing powerful combination therapies.

1. High-Dose Oral Semaglutide for Diabetes (Trial Phase: Late Stage) While the new Wegovy pill is for obesity, Novo is actively testing these higher oral doses for type 2 diabetes. Current oral semaglutide for diabetes (Rybelsus) is effective but lower dose. The success of the Wegovy pill suggests a high-dose diabetes pill is likely on the near-term horizon, offering diabetes patients unprecedented oral blood sugar control and weight loss benefits.

2. CagriSema: The Combination Punch (Trial Phase: Phase 3) The most anticipated drug in Novo’s immediate pipeline is CagriSema. This is a weekly injection that combines semaglutide with a new drug called cagrilintide (an amylin analogue).

  • The Goal: Early data suggests CagriSema could offer even greater weight loss than current Wegovy injections, potentially exceeding the 20% threshold, and may offer a faster onset of action.

  • Timeline: Crucial Phase 3 data is expected soon, positioning it as the potential successor to the current injectable throne.

Eli Lilly’s Counterattack: Convenience and Power

Eli Lilly, riding high on the success of tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), has perhaps the most diverse and aggressive pipeline in the industry. They are attacking on two fronts: ultimate convenience and ultimate power.

1. Orforglipron: The "Easy" Pill (Trial Phase: Phase 3) This is perhaps the biggest threat to Novo's new oral dominance. The current oral semaglutide technology has a catch: it must be taken on an empty stomach with no food or drink for 30 minutes afterward, or it doesn't work well.

  • The Goal: Lilly’s orforglipron is a different type of molecule ("small molecule") designed to be taken daily withoutstrict food or water restrictions. If successful in its ongoing Phase 3 trials, it could become the preferred oral option due to ease of use.

  • Timeline: Lilly has signaled plans to submit this for approval potentially in 2026.

2. Retatrutide: The "Triple G" Heavyweight (Trial Phase: Phase 3) If current drugs are double-receptors, Retatrutide is the triple threat. It targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors.

  • The Goal: Phase 2 data was astonishing, showing weight loss approaching an average of 24%. This level of efficacy is beginning to rival the very best outcomes of invasive bariatric surgery. It is also showing profound effects on liver fat.

  • Timeline: Massive Phase 3 trials are underway, with results eagerly anticipated in the next couple of years.

A New Era of Options

The approval of the oral Wegovy pill is a celebratory moment for patient access. It democratizes a powerful therapy that was previously restricted to those willing to inject.

However, in the grand scheme of metabolic medicine, today is just the starting gun for the next lap. With Novo Nordisk pushing combination therapies and Lilly aiming for unrestricted pills and triple-agonist powerhouses, patients with obesity and diabetes will soon have an arsenal of highly customized tools to manage their chronic conditions.

Sources and Further Reading

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Scott Benner Scott Benner

Nationwide Omnipod Recycling Program

Hello Friends!

The Omnipod Recycling Program is Going Nationwide! ♻️🌍

I have some absolutely fantastic news to share with you all today. If you’ve been listening to the podcast or following the T1D tech world for a while, you know that one of the biggest questions we always ask is: "But what do we do with all the plastic?"

Well, Insulet has heard us loud and clear. 🎉

As of today, the Omnipod Recycling Program has officially expanded nationwide across the U.S.! This is a huge step forward for our community and for the planet. We are talking about diverting millions of Pods from landfills and turning them into something new.

Why This is a Big Deal ✨

We all love the freedom of tubeless pumping, but looking at that pile of used Pods can sometimes feel a little heavy on the conscience. This expansion means that whether you are in Miami, Seattle, or anywhere in between, you now have a direct, free way to dispose of your Pods responsibly.

Insulet isn’t just tossing them in a different bin, either. They are partnering with specialized recyclers to decontaminate the Pods and reclaim the materials (like batteries and metals) to be reused. It’s a massive win for sustainability in the diabetes space.

How It Works (It’s Super Simple!) 👇

They have made the process incredibly easy for us. Here is the lowdown:

  1. Request a Kit: Head over to the Omnipod website and request your free recycling kit.

  2. Fill It Up: The kit comes with a prepaid shipping label and a box that holds up to 60 Pods. That is roughly 6 months of supplies!

  3. Send It Back: Once your box is full, just seal it up and drop it off at FedEx or USPS. That’s it!

Let’s Do This Together 🤝

I am so excited to see a major player like Insulet taking responsibility and giving us the tools to be more eco-friendly. It’s one less thing to worry about and one more way we can take care of the world while we take care of ourselves.

So, go grab your kit, tell your dia-buddies, and let’s start filling those boxes!

Check out the full details and grab your kit here: https://www.omnipod.com/pod-recycling-pilot

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Scott Benner Scott Benner

Why Your Carb Ratio Stopped Working (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

You count the carbs perfectly. You weigh the food. You punch the numbers into your pump or calculate the dose for your pen exactly as your doctor taught you. The math is perfect.

And then, 45 minutes later, you watch your Dexcom arrow shoot straight up. You hit 250 mg/dL. You stay there for two hours, frustrated and exhausted, before crashing back down.

You assume the problem is the math. You think, "My insulin-to-carb ratio must be wrong. I need more insulin."

Here is the trap: If you change your ratio, you will likely go low next time. The problem isn't the amount of insulin. It’s the timing.

The "Right Amount" at the "Wrong Time" is Still a High

Standard medical advice teaches us to "Bolus and Eat." But this advice ignores the laws of physics.

  • The Reality: Standard rapid-acting insulin takes 15–20 minutes to begin working and 60–90 minutes to peak.

  • The Problem: Modern processed food (even "healthy" carbs) hits your bloodstream in minutes.

If you bolus and eat immediately, the food wins the race. It spikes your blood sugar before the insulin even wakes up. By the time the insulin starts working, it’s too late—you are already chasing a high.

The Solution: The "Tug-of-War"

Imagine your blood sugar is a flag in the middle of a tug-of-war rope. On one side is Insulin (pulling down). On the other side are Carbs (pulling up).

If you let the Carbs start pulling 20 minutes before the Insulin shows up, the flag flies into the sky (a spike).

To win, you must give the insulin a "head start." This is called a Pre-Bolus. By dosing 15, 20, or even 30 minutes before you eat, you allow the insulin to start pulling down just as the food starts pulling up. The forces cancel each other out, and the flag (your blood sugar) stays in the middle.

⚠️ The Safety Check (Read Before You Bolus)

Pre-bolusing is a power tool, but you must respect the current data. Context is King.

  1. Never Pre-Bolus a Low: If your blood sugar is low (e.g., under 70 mg/dL) or your arrow is trending down, do not wait. Eat immediately. The "Tug-of-War" is already lost; you need the carbs to pull up instantly.

  2. The "Pizza Effect": High-fat/high-protein meals digest much slower than standard carbs. If you pre-bolus a heavy meal (like pizza or steak) by 20 minutes, you may crash before the food digests. These meals often require an extended bolus or different timing.

  3. Know Your Insulin: If you use ultra-rapid insulin (like Fiasp or Lyumjev), your wait times will be much shorter.

Stop Chasing the Ghost

You don’t need to change your ratio yet. You need to change your timing. You need to understand that "Timing and Amount" are equal partners. Even the perfect amount of insulin will fail if it arrives late to the party.

Ready to stop the spikes?

You don’t have to live on a rollercoaster. We break down exactly how to time your insulin safely, how to handle high-fat foods, and how to test your Pre-Bolus timing in the Diabetes Pro Tip Series.

Start Here:

🎧 Episode 1003: Pre-Bolus (The strategy that changes everything) - Apple Device, Spotify

🎧 Episode 1002: All About Insulin (Understanding how your tool actually works) - Apple Device, Spotify

🎧 Episode 1428: Small Sips Tug of War (The visual that makes it click) - Apple Device, Spotify

Stop blaming yourself for "bad numbers." It’s just data. And now you have the data to fix it.

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