Medical Weight Loss in Bethesda

Why Do Most Weight Loss Programs Fail?

Diet and exercise are key to losing weight. There is no “magic pill” that can achieve weight loss without both. However, diet and exercise alone are usually not enough. This is because the human body has evolved over time to prevent you from losing weight. The body does this through a complex network of biochemicals and receptors. While these mechanisms were protective hundreds of years ago when famine and starvation were real threats to humans, today they just make weight loss extremely difficult. In fact, the older you are and the longer you have been overweight, the harder it is to lose that weight.

How does Drs. Mintz and Taskier’s medical weight loss programs work?

Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier are  able to help patients achieve weight loss success by combing diet and exercise
with prescription medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, or Mounjaro  (or their compounded versions) that help to counteract some of the factors that prevent weight loss. Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will take your lifestyle, habits, and tendencies into account, and help pick lifestyle changes and medications that will ensure your success. During this 12 month program, you have an initial comprehensive evaluation and continual monitoring.

Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will discuss diet and exercise plans that are realistic for your life, will work with you to customize a diet and exercise program that works for you, and prescribe the best weight loss medication(s) to ensure that you not only lose the weight, but keep it off.

What you won’t get with Drs. Mintz and Taskier’s medical weight loss program are high-pressure sales pitches,  powders, mixes, and  prepared food found in many other weight loss programs.

How much weight can I lose?

While everyone is different, new prescription medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, or Mounjaro work far better than previous weight loss pills. For example, studies have shown that patients on Mounjaro achieved an average loss of 60% of their excess weight in over a year. This is not that much different from the expected weight loss seen with obesity surgery, such as gastric bypass, that can achieve about 70% of excess weight in over a year.

Again, whether surgery or medication, there is no “magic bullet.  Staying on track with diet an exercise is key to success, which is why Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will help customize a weight loss program specifically for you, and follow up with you regularly to ensure you achieve these goals.

What is Included?

• An initial, in-person comprehensive evaluation and customized weight loss plan
• Follow-up visits (in-person or virtual) at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months.
• 1 year of phone call/email service to answer any questions or troubleshoot problems.
• Initial blood work
• 1 year of prescription medications for weight loss, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro.

How Much Does this Cost? Is it Covered by my Insurance?

The fee for Drs. Mintz and Taskier’s medical weight loss program is $1000. This includes everything except for blood work and medications. While Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier do not accept insurance, they can give you an invoice to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Blood work is drawn in the office, and most insurances cover the entire cost of the labs ( your insurance may charge you a co-pay). Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier prescribes a variety of weight loss medications, and some of them are also covered by insurance. As with most prescriptions, a co-pay may apply.

How Can Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier Help Me Save Money On Weight Loss Medications?

While the new weight loss medications have been incredibly successful, their price tag has put them out of reach for many patients.  Fortunately, Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier can help you find ways to afford these medications regardless of your insurance coverage.

There are currently three GLP-1 injectable medications for weight loss: Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro. Ozempic and Mounjaro are currently only indicated for diabetes.  This doesn’t mean they can’t be used in non-diabetics for weight loss.  It just means your insurance won’t cover them unless you are diabetic (if your insurance company states they cover these medications, this means only if you have a diagnosis of diabetes).  If your regular doctor hasn’t already done so, Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will check you for diabetes to see if you can receive coverage.

Wegovy is the exact same medication as Ozempic and made by the same company.  The same is true for Zepbound and Mounjaro, except made by a different company. However, Wegovy and Zepbound are indicated for obesity. Most insurances do not cover weight loss medications, but some will, such as the Federal government, Maryland state government, and certain private companies.   Please check with your insurance company to see if they cover Wegovy of Zepbound. (If they say it requires prior authorization, this means it is covered. If they say they cover Ozempic or Mounjaro, it means it’s not covered and will only cover Ozempic or Zepbound if you have diabetes).  If Wegovy or Zepbound is covered by your insurance, your cost with a coupon could be $0.

For those who don’t have diabetes and insurance coverage for Wegovy, even with the manufacturer’s coupon; Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro cost up to $1000 a month.  Since this is not affordable for most patients, Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier work with several compounding pharmacies that can provide these medications at significantly reduced cost.  Compounding pharmacies are highly regulated by the FDA, and only a handful in the country meet the strict criteria that allow them to offer injectables for weight loss.  Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier have extensive experience working with compounding pharmacies and will ensure that you are only using legal, safe, and effective medication.

For semaglutide (the generic of Ozempic/Wegovy), the cost of a one-month supply at the maximum dose is $400 a month from one of the compounding pharmacies. However, most patients can achieve their weight loss goals at far less than the maximum dose.  For example, the starting dose of semaglutide is one tenth (0.25mg) the maximum dose ($40/month), and half the maximum dose (1.25mg) would be $200/month.  Alternatively, the pricing of regular Ozempic is the same for the starting dose (0.25mg/0.5mg) as the maximum dose (2mg), and Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier can show you how to “count the clicks” to make the $1000 Ozempic pen last for many months.  The generic for Mounjaro and Zepbound is called tirzepatide. It tends to work a bit better, with fewer side effects than semaglutide, but costs a bit more- one-month supply at the maximum dose is $500 a month.  There are pros and cons of these and other options, which Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will discuss with you in more detail during your initial consultation.  The bottom line is that Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier will work with you to find a medication option that you can afford to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Can Dr. Mintz or Dr. Taskier Become my Primary Care Physician?

Both Dr. Mintz and Dr. Taskier are primary care physicians and have a concierge practice. Dr. Mintz is no longer accepting new primary care patients, but Dr. Taskier is accepting new patients in her concierge practice.  The fee for the concierge practice is $2000 a year and INCLUDES medical weight loss services. So, if you are interested in medical weight loss and are in need of a primary care doctor, consider signing up for Dr. Taskier’s concierge practice.

As Seen on 60 Minutes: