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Which telehealth platforms currently prescribe tirzepatide and what are their patient eligibility criteria?
Executive summary
Telehealth platforms that explicitly say they prescribe tirzepatide include PlushCare, K Health, Sesame (Sesame Care), WeightWatchers/LillyDirect (via Zepbound fulfillment), and multiple direct-to-consumer telemedicine vendors and “medical weight‑loss” clinics that advertise compounded tirzepatide such as Shed, Eden Health, Brello, Aspire, OrderlyMeds, and others (examples: PlushCare, K Health, Sesame, WeightWatchers/LillyDirect, Shed/Eden/Brello/OrderlyMeds) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]. Most platforms require a telehealth visit, documentation of medical history, and either a qualifying diagnosis (type 2 diabetes) or BMI thresholds for weight‑loss prescribing (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight‑related condition) — rules used by several vendors and described in clinical eligibility guidance [9] [10] [11] [12].
1. Who the telehealth sellers name as offering tirzepatide prescriptions
Telehealth and virtual clinics prominently listing tirzepatide prescriptions include established telehealth firms such as PlushCare (which promotes Mounjaro and compounded options) [1] [13], K Health (which advertises eligibility screening and online prescribing) [2], Sesame (which says providers on its platform can assess and prescribe tirzepatide) [3], and platforms tied to Lilly’s distribution for Zepbound (WeightWatchers linking to LillyDirect for Zepbound vials) [4] [12]. Separately, a long tail of direct-to-consumer “medical weight‑loss” telehealth clinics advertise compounded tirzepatide or proprietary plans — examples named in reporting and directories include Shed, Eden Health, Brello, OrderlyMeds, Aspire, and others [14] [5] [6] [7] [8].
2. How these platforms screen patients before prescribing
Across sources the common workflow is an online medical questionnaire and a clinician review or video visit; prescriptions are issued “at doctor’s discretion” after review of health history, medications, and goals [5] [1] [12]. PlushCare and similar services limit compounded‑tirzepatide to specific states and say clinicians will decide appropriateness; some platforms require follow‑up monitoring and labwork [1] [13] [5]. WeightWatchers/LillyDirect emphasizes an online consultation to determine if a patient “qualifies” for Zepbound [4] [12].
3. Typical medical eligibility criteria reported
Multiple sources summarize eligibility for tirzepatide broadly in line with FDA labeling and weight‑management norms: type 2 diabetes patients are appropriate candidates for Mounjaro; for weight loss, obesity criteria (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight‑related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) are commonly required [9] [10] [11]. Telehealth pages and blogs reiterate that clinicians will confirm diagnosis and BMI during evaluation before prescribing [10] [11] [12].
4. Variations: branded product vs. compounded formulations
Platforms differ on whether they prescribe FDA‑approved branded products (Mounjaro, Zepbound) or compounded tirzepatide. Some telehealth sellers provide branded prescriptions when available and prescribe compounded formulations only under specific conditions such as documented shortages (PlushCare notes compounded tirzepatide may be used if branded products are on the FDA shortage list) [13]. Other clinics market compounded tirzepatide routinely as a lower‑cost or daily oral option — but reporting warns compounded products are not FDA‑approved and may carry different risks [14] [13] [15].
5. Geographic and policy limits to access
Several services limit where they can ship compounded tirzepatide; PlushCare lists many allowed states and notes restrictions when branded supply is available [1] [13]. VaccineAlliance and several clinic listings explicitly warn some states are excluded and that state licensing affects telehealth prescribing [16] [14] [13]. If you need a branded product via a manufacturer program (e.g., LillyDirect), fulfillment routes and eligibility may differ [4].
6. Safety, evidence and contested claims to be aware of
Journalistic and medical coverage flags two important caveats: (a) compounded tirzepatide is not FDA‑approved and carries manufacturing/quality differences versus branded drugs (PlushCare disclosure) [13]; (b) marketing claims about “microdosing” or low‑dose compounded GLP‑1/tirzepatide benefits lack robust clinical evidence, according to physicians and researchers (statnews) [15]. These tensions explain why some telehealth firms emphasize clinician oversight and state‑licensed pharmacies [14] [5].
7. What the available reporting does not settle
Available sources list many vendors but do not provide a definitive, exhaustive roster of every telehealth platform that prescribes tirzepatide; they also do not provide uniform, verifiable pricing, exact state lists for every service, or concrete success/ safety outcomes for compounded products beyond company claims (not found in current reporting) [14] [7] [6]. For patient‑specific eligibility and state restrictions you must consult the platform’s own intake and clinician review.
Bottom line: multiple mainstream telehealth companies and numerous direct‑to‑consumer weight‑loss clinics publicly offer tirzepatide evaluations; they universally require clinician review and generally follow diabetes/BMI‑based eligibility rules, but important differences exist between prescribing branded versus compounded tirzepatide and in state availability — and independent reporting flags quality and evidence concerns around compounded or low‑dose offerings [1] [4] [13] [15] [10].