Weight Loss Tips

Guide provided by Sheyanne Espiritu

🗺️ Overview

Weight management has become one of the most frequent reasons new patients seek care. Because treatment in this area often requires prior authorization, it’s essential to gather detailed information from the patient and document the encounter accurately to ensure smooth approval and reimbursement.

🔑 Key Points
Check that visit note addresses prior authorization needs depending on medication 

• Ozempic/mounjaro: type 2 diabetes diagnosis
   
• Zepbound/wegovy: obesity BMI >30 or overweight BMI >27 with contributing diagnosis: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea
  
   

🚨 Must be Included in Notes

• Current height, weight, BMI (if continuing weight loss med, how long have they been on the medication and what was their initial height, weight, BMI)
   
• What is their medical history? (if glaucoma, palpitations, chest pain, headaches, kidney stones, seizures, head trauma, pancreatitis, thyroid cancer: review severe side effects for GLP-1s)
   
• Do they have any medical diagnoses that contribute to weight gain?
   
• Baseline labs CBC, CMP, TSH, lipid panel, a1c to assess for possible causes of weight gain OR recent labs for review in the last 6 months
   
• What have they tried for weight loss?
   
• Have they ever been on weight loss medications? If so, what was the outcome?
   
• Do they follow any specific diet?
   
• How often do they exercise?
   
• What is their ideal weight? When and what was their healthiest weight?
   
• What are their weight loss goals?
  
   

🎯 Nice to Note

• Are they under a lot of stress? Does this contribute to overeating?
   
• Have any life events caused weight gain? 
   
• What is their usual sleep schedule, how many hours do they sleep per night?
   
• What is their work occupation? Does their schedule prevent them from exercising?
   
• Do they take any medications that cause weight gain?
  
   

🧑‍🏫 Teaching to Include

• Weight loss medications work best in conjunction with healthy diet and regular exercise
   
• Make sure the patient is aware of possible side effects that the medications can cause, have a plan to combat nausea or constipation issues.
   
• Avoid trigger foods that can cause worsening symptoms such as alcohol, oily foods, processed foods, fried foods, large portions
   
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!
   
• Weekly weigh-ins and measurements on the same day, at the same time (usually first thing in the morning, after going to the restroom) are essential to track progress and check-in
   
• Monthly follow-ups are crucial to ensure patient is tolerating medication well, weight loss journey is progressing, assess if patient is appropriate for increasing dose or tapering down for maintenance

If you have any questions or would like more information, please comment or reach out to the Delegating Physician.