RX Index Decision Methodology

The RX Index exists to help readers make GLP-1 decisions with more clarity, not just compare prices. Our methodology explains how we evaluate providers, treatment paths, pricing, policies, clinical safeguards, transparency, and access before making a recommendation.

We prioritize primary sources, document our review standards, and update pages when material facts change. Our goal is to help readers make more informed decisions by presenting healthcare information as clearly, accurately, and responsibly as possible.

We aim to make our sourcing, standards, and limitations clear so readers can evaluate our content with confidence.

The RX Index Score

The RX Index Score is our decision-worthiness framework for GLP-1 providers and treatment paths. It is not a medical recommendation and it does not predict whether a clinician will prescribe treatment. It is a structured editorial score designed to help readers compare practical provider options using the same criteria.

The score is editorial and informational only. It is not medical advice, not a guarantee of prescription approval, and not a guarantee of insurance coverage. A licensed clinician determines eligibility, prescribing, dosing, and treatment suitability.

When We Display a Numeric Score

We only display a numeric RX Index Score when the provider has a current score record with factor-level review, a verification date, and a methodology version. If a page does not show a numeric score, the provider may still be discussed editorially, but it has not yet been published with a verified RX Index Score.

Where a numeric score has not been published, we present an RX Index Decision Verdict — a plain-language summary of who a path fits best, who it is not ideal for, and the decision factor that matters most — drawn from the same criteria.

How this maps to our previous scoring framework

We previously described our provider review framework using categories such as Medical Rigor, Cost Transparency, Pharmacy Transparency, User Experience, and Medication Options. The RX Index Score preserves those same safeguards but reframes them around the reader's decision: clinical legitimacy, support, fit, transparency, value, and access.

1. Our Research Standards

We rely on primary and high-trust sources whenever possible. Depending on the topic, these may include:

• Provider pricing pages, terms, FAQs, and intake flows
• Official manufacturer information and prescribing materials
• FDA labeling, safety communications, and regulatory materials
• Peer-reviewed medical literature
• Publicly available pharmacy, licensing, or regulatory records

We do not base our conclusions on marketing claims alone. When evaluating a provider, medication, or pricing model, we compare published information across multiple sources and verify key details before publication.

2. Our Data Collection Process

For provider reviews, comparisons, and pricing pages, we use a structured review process designed to capture what a reader would actually want to know before choosing a service.

This process may include:

• Reviewing pricing pages, disclosures, and cancellation terms
• Examining intake forms and onboarding steps
• Identifying recurring fees, consultation costs, shipping charges, or lab requirements
• Checking whether medication options, pharmacy relationships, or eligibility details are clearly disclosed
• Confirming whether claims made on one page are supported elsewhere on the provider's site or in source documentation

Where appropriate, we test publicly available user flows to better understand the real customer experience and to identify costs or restrictions that may not be obvious from headline marketing alone.

3. How We Analyze Cost

Healthcare pricing is often presented in ways that make comparisons difficult. Introductory offers, "starting at" prices, and limited-time promotions may not reflect the amount a typical patient is likely to pay.

For that reason, our pricing analysis focuses on True Monthly Cost, which may include:

When pricing varies by dosage, treatment plan, location, or other factors, we note those limitations clearly. If a provider does not publish enough detail to support a precise comparison, we say so.

4. How We Evaluate Providers

Our provider reviews use the RX Index Score framework described in the table above. Each provider is evaluated on the same six factors so that comparisons are consistent and based on the same core standards.

1. Clinical legitimacy & safety (25%) — Intake quality, licensed clinician review, contraindication handling, safety disclosures, FDA-approved vs compounded clarity, regulatory signals.
2. Care & support model (20%) — Provider access, messaging, follow-up, labs, coaching, dose support, and side-effect support.
3. Medication options & fit (15%) — FDA-approved options, compounded options, semaglutide/tirzepatide availability, oral/injection options, and insurance/cash-pay paths.
4. Transparency & honest terms (15%) — Pricing clarity, cancellation terms, recurring fees, pharmacy/source disclosure, and marketing claim quality.
5. Value / true cost (15%) — First-month cost, ongoing cost, membership fees, medication cost, labs, shipping, and whether the total cost is reasonable for the care model.
6. Access & speed (10%) — State availability, onboarding speed, pharmacy fulfillment clarity, insurance/prior-authorization support, and refill friction.

A commercial relationship does not improve a provider's score, ranking, or editorial treatment.

5. Editorial Review and Accuracy Controls

Every page is reviewed before publication for clarity, consistency, and factual alignment with source materials.

Our editorial process is designed to reduce error by requiring that key claims be checked against source documentation, especially when a page includes pricing information, medication details, eligibility considerations, safety-related information, or provider comparisons.

Pages that include clinical review are labeled accordingly with the reviewer's name, credentials, and review date. Pages without that designation should be understood as editorial and educational content, not medical advice.

6. What We Can Verify

We can verify information that is publicly stated, documented, or directly observable through the sources we review. This may include:

• Posted pricing and fee structures
• Published policies and terms
• Onboarding steps and sign-up flows
• Disclosed pharmacy or fulfillment information
• Source materials cited on the page

7. What We Cannot Verify

Some healthcare information is individualized or changes in real time. We cannot verify:

• Whether a specific patient will qualify for treatment
• Whether a prescription will ultimately be approved
• Insurance coverage outcomes
• Medication availability for every patient in every state
• Provider decisions made on a case-by-case basis

For that reason, readers should always confirm important treatment, pricing, and eligibility details directly with the provider before making a decision.

8. Updates and Corrections

We review active pages on a rolling basis and prioritize updates when there are meaningful changes to pricing, policies, medication availability, safety information, or regulatory developments.

The "Last Updated" date on a page reflects the most recent substantive factual review of that page.

If we identify a material error, we correct it. Readers who believe a page contains inaccurate or outdated information may contact us at [email protected].

9. Independence and Disclosure

The RX Index is an editorial publisher. Our goal is to help readers better understand their options through clear, structured, and evidence-based information.

We may earn compensation from some links on this site. That compensation does not determine our rankings, scores, conclusions, or editorial coverage. Providers cannot pay for favorable placement, a higher score, or removal of negative findings.

For full details, see our Affiliate Disclosure.

10. Important Reader Notice

The RX Index does not provide medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Content on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Readers should consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.