Specialty pharmacy

Definition

A pharmacy credentialed for high-cost, complex-handling drugs — biologics, injectables, and some GLP-1s. Many commercial plans route Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro through a contracted specialty pharmacy rather than a retail counter. It adds monitoring requirements and can smooth prior authorization.

GLP Watchdog writes these definitions from FDA labels and peer-reviewed PubMed literature. Not one of them is an AI-generated summary.

Other terms under insurance

• PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager)
• Copay accumulator
• Mail-order pharmacy
• Quantity limit
• Bridge therapy
• Patient assistance program (PAP)
• Manufacturer coupon
• Deductible
• Coinsurance

Where the evidence lives

• The full GLP-1 glossary (149 terms, 8 categories)
• Research articles — written from primary sources
• Tools and calculators
• Compare GLP-1 telehealth providers