Applies to Medicaid plans.
Covered with requirementsQualification pathways
You can qualify through any one of these.
Wegovy injection for MACE - requires Ozempic 2mg step therapy
All of:
- Member is between ages ≥55 and <75
- Member does not have diabetes, as evidenced by A1C within normal range without diabetes medication
- Member has initial BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and <35 kg/m2
- Member is concurrently taking lipid-lowering and antiplatelet therapy
- Dose escalation to 2mg of Ozempic (semaglutide) must be tolerated before Wegovy injection will be authorized (2.4mg is the only strength indicated for reduction of MACE)
Plus any one of:
- Prior myocardial infarction (MI)
- Prior stroke AND peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as evidenced by intermittent claudication with ankle-brachial index <0.85, peripheral arterial revascularization procedure, or amputation due to atherosclerotic disease
Wegovy tablets for MACE - non-preferred, requires 12-month semaglutide injection trial
All of:
- All initial MACE criteria above must be met
- Member must have failed a 12-month trial of semaglutide injection, as evidenced by paid claims or pharmacy printouts
- Dose escalation to 14mg of Rybelsus (semaglutide) must be tolerated before Wegovy tablets will be authorized
Plus any one of:
- Unable to achieve weight loss ≥5% from baseline
- Unable to achieve reduction of BMI ≥5% from baseline
- Experienced a cardiovascular event following a 5% weight loss or 5% BMI reduction since starting medication
Documentation to bring
- A1C lab result within normal range (confirming no diabetes) without diabetes medication
- Documentation of baseline BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and <35 kg/m2
- Documentation of qualifying CV event (prior MI; OR prior stroke AND PAD with ABI <0.85, revascularization, or amputation)
- Documentation of concurrent lipid-lowering therapy use
- Documentation of concurrent antiplatelet therapy use
- Tobacco cessation counseling documentation (if current tobacco user, within past year)
- For Wegovy injection: documentation of dose escalation to Ozempic 2mg tolerated
- For Wegovy tablets (non-preferred): documentation of 12-month failed trial of semaglutide injection; documentation of Rybelsus 14mg tolerated
Approval and renewal
- Initial approval: 12 months
- Renewal: every 12 months
- Renewal: At least 5% reduction in BMI.
- Renewal: Failure of Wegovy tablets (for renewal/non-preferred step) defined as: unable to achieve weight loss ≥5% from baseline, OR unable to achieve reduction of BMI ≥5% from baseline, OR experienced a cardiovascular event following a 5% weight loss or 5% BMI reduction since starting medication.
- Renewal: Staying on a maintenance dose of at least 2.4 mg.
Not covered when
- Patients WITH diabetes are excluded from this MACE indication (must use diabetes criteria)
- BMI ≥35 kg/m2 is excluded
- Only the 2.4mg strength is indicated for MACE reduction
Policy note: Wegovy injection and Wegovy tablets are both listed as NON-PREFERRED agents in the MACE section. Wegovy injection requires prior dose escalation to Ozempic 2mg as step therapy. Wegovy tablets are non-preferred relative to injection and require a 12-month trial of semaglutide injection with documented failure. For tobacco users, cessation counseling in past year required. BMI range is ≥27 and <35 kg/m2 - upper limit of <35 is notable and more restrictive than typical.
Policy effective April 1, 2026 · verified June 3, 2026 · source: Pdl 2026.4 · View policy document (PDF)