LillyDirect adds knownwell for obesity-focused primary care

Eli Lilly said on April 2 that primary care company knownwell will now offer health and weight-management services through LillyDirect, Lilly's direct-to-consumer online healthcare platform ^[1]. Patients using LillyDirect will be able to see knownwell physicians for personalized care, according to the announcement ^[1].

Knownwell provides in-person and virtual primary care, nutrition counseling and behavioral health services, and these services are covered through patients' insurance ^[1]. This is different from just getting a prescription filled online. It adds a broader care team to the process of managing obesity or weight-related conditions.

This move fits a pattern. Lilly expanded LillyDirect in March to add telehealth providers who diagnose and care for Alzheimer's disease patients ^[1]. Telehealth firms have also been partnering with LillyDirect to help patients access Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) ^[1]. Lilly said in a statement that "LillyDirect continues to expand our listing of independent care provider options to benefit patients," and that it "continues to evaluate additional independent care providers for inclusion in an effort to improve patient choice and access to quality access to quality care" ^[1].

The timing matters. During the period when Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's rival drug Wegovy (semaglutide) were in shortage, telehealth companies sold cheaper compounded copies of these drugs ^[1]. Both branded drugs have since been removed from the Food and Drug Administration's shortage list ^[1]. With compounded versions facing tighter restrictions, telehealth and primary care firms have been looking for other ways to connect with patients seeking these medications, and partnering with LillyDirect is one such avenue ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

For people considering or already using Zepbound, this change means LillyDirect is not just a place to get a prescription. It now includes a path to ongoing primary care that covers nutrition counseling and behavioral health, not just the drug itself ^[1]. Because knownwell's services are covered through patients' insurance, this could affect what people pay out of pocket compared with cash-pay telehealth options, though the sources do not detail specific costs or insurance terms ^[1].

This also signals a broader shift in how Lilly is packaging its obesity drug. Rather than treating Zepbound as a standalone product available through telehealth prescribers, Lilly appears to be building a fuller care model around it, similar to how it added Alzheimer's telehealth providers to LillyDirect the month before ^[1]. Patients who want more comprehensive support around weight management, including nutrition and behavioral health, may find this option relevant. Those who prefer a simpler telehealth-only path may have other providers on the platform to choose from, though the sources do not list every option available on LillyDirect.

It is not yet known from these sources how many patients have used knownwell's services through LillyDirect, what the specific costs are for patients without insurance, or how this partnership compares with other telehealth arrangements on the platform in terms of patient outcomes or satisfaction.

What happens next

Lilly said it "continues to evaluate additional independent care providers for inclusion" on LillyDirect, suggesting more partnerships could be announced ^[1]. The sources do not specify a timeline for further additions or provide details on how the knownwell partnership will be evaluated or expanded going forward.