UToledo Human Resources

The University of Toledo is pleased to include weight management as a part of our benefit package. Our UToledo Health Weight Management team is here to support employees and their covered dependents in improving your health, achieving sustainable, long‑term weight loss, and providing safe access to weight management medications when appropriate. Please review the following information thoroughly to see if you or your dependent qualify for coverage and are prepared to commit to the program requirements.

Care Team

Our program provides coordinated, evidence based care for individuals seeking support with obesity and metabolic health. You will work with a team that may include:

• Physicians certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM)
• Pharmacists
• Registered dietitians
• Behavioral health specialists

Who Is Eligible?  

Employees and dependents covered under UToledo insurance and commit to required visits and lifestyle support may qualify if they meet any of the following criteria:

• BMI ≥ 30 or BMI ≥ 27 with an FDA indicated obesity related comorbidity.
• You are pre or post bariatric surgery and need metabolic optimization.
• You are currently using weight management medications on your own but want to participate in a personally designed weight management program where medications may be covered.

Note: You may choose to pay out of pocket for weight management medications without participating in the program. Insurance coverage requires full program participation.

Program Expectations

To remain eligible for medication coverage, patients must:

• Attend all scheduled physician, pharmacist and dietitian visits.
• Achieve at least 5% total body weight loss within 6 months of starting medication.
• Maintain progress or stable weight after the initial 6 month period.
• Actively following your care plan.
• Reschedule missed appointments within 4–6 weeks.
• Avoid repeated cancellations or missed appointments. Two consecutive no shows will result in loss of medication coverage.

Medication Coverage Requirements

To have weight management medications covered, you must:

• Receive prescriptions from an approved ABOM certified or partnered provider, including:  
  • Dr. Yara Tovar, endocrinology
  • Dr. Hoda Shabpiray, internal medicine
  • Dr. Shuhao Qiu, internal medicine
  • Dr. Jyothi Pappula, family medicine
  • Dr. Chayanika Pal, family medicine
  • Dr. Shalini Niranjan, family medicine
  • Dr. Mariam Mina, family medicine
• Fill prescriptions at a UToledo Health Outpatient Pharmacy:
  • UT Access Pharmacy, inside the Comprehensive Care Center at 3333 Glendale Ave.
  • Main Campus Pharmacy, at the University Health Center at 1735 W. Rocket Drive
  • Health Science Campus Pharmacy, in the Medical Pavillion at 1125 Hospital Drive

Please note that appointments are limited and based on provider capacity for new patients.

How to Get Started

1. For those with a UToledo Health primary care provider (PCP), ask your PCP to send a referral to bariatrics for the weight management program. If your PCP is within Family Medicine, you will be scheduled with a Family Medicine provider. If your PCP is Internal Medicine, you will be scheduled with an Internal Medicine provider.
2. If your PCP is not with UToledo Health, have your PCP fax a referral to 419.383.2962.
3. For those without a PCP, please call 419.383.5000 to establish care with a UToledo Health PCP. 

Medication Information

• Weight management medications are not automatically covered and require prior authorization. Allow extra time when refilling your prescription.
• Weight management medications covered through the program and UToledo insurance include Wegovy, Zepbound, Qsymia, Contrave and phentermine.
• Ozempic and Mounjaro are only covered for patients with diabetes. They are not covered for weight management.

Program Visit Schedule

Patients will be expected to follow up every 4-6 weeks for the first few months with visits alternating between provider, dietician and pharmacist. Patients can expect to attend 9-12 visits in the first year. 

Ongoing Coverage Requirements

To maintain insurance coverage:

• Achieve at least 5% total body weight loss within 6 months of starting medication.
• Maintain progress or stable weight after the initial 6 month period.
• Actively follow your care plan, including staying on schedule with provider visits and medication titration. Cancelling required appointments or two consecutive no shows will lead to termination of medication authorization.

We’re Here to Help

If you have any questions about the program or medication coverage, please reach out to the Benefits office at benefits@utoledo.edu or Bree Meinzer, pharmacy manager for managed care, at breanna.meinzer@utoledo.edu or 419.383.1591.