Brand New to Big Easy?

Click here for our Start Here Guide!

New Patient Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions or just want to interact with an actual human?

Call (504) 313-6301 – email krewe@joinbigeasy.com – Message us in the portal

Where our value comes in & how it shines through?
Big Easy takes pride in our platform in helping facilitate direct access to physicians to address your medical needs.

We help you get the most accessible care via telemedicine. We ensure that your needs are the top priority, as we are an independent business that believes in helping patients obtain better outcomes.

No common ownership with a pharmacy, just us, connecting you with live physician-led care online. We connect you with 100% accessible live (online) physician care.

You have a live phone/video 30-minute initial appointment, and a direct chat with them through our portal for the duration of your care, and a live 15-minute follow-up appointment once a quarter after – all included at our base price. Big Easy helps you have a direct relationship with healthcare providers.

We contract directly with 100% independent physicians – they are not a part of a larger organization or medical service – no prescription services that refer prescriptions.

You have full autonomy to collaborate with your healthcare provider and choose the pharmacy of your choice if medication is prescribed.

We’ll put our customer service and responsiveness up against anyone, and I believe we’ll win. Especially Cassie. She’s a rockstar. We also have a phone number to call 🙂

We allow our patients to pay for quarterly prescriptions monthly.

We, and our partner pharmacies, facilitate the shipping process. We ship refrigerated overnight, and if things don’t go right, we make it right because we have the best customer service.

You have a pretty direct line into the CEO if you need it.

Our dedication to making it right I think shines through on our TrustPilot Reviews – we only have one 1-star review – from a guy who was upset we weren’t answering his texts to our non-textable office line.
Who owns Big Easy and what is your role in patient care?
Big Easy is owned by both physicians and non-physicians. Rather, our role as the technology platform is to contract with highly qualified, licensed physicians to provide you with the best possible care.

The beauty of utilizing Big Easy is that we can facilitate access to your physicians so each of us can focus on providing the best care – the platform facilitating access and the contracted physicians providing medical care. As the technology provider, we are dedicated to delivering a secure, user-friendly, and efficient platform that connects you with experienced clinicians, supports quality medical decision-making, and ensures your healthcare experience is safe, seamless, and patient-focused.
Are you a start up?
Well, sure. In so much that every telehealth offering GLPs is a startup. Big Easy soft launched in April of 2024, and our first official day was May 4th, 2024 – 5/04. Because New Orleans. Why not!

In fact, some of the largest telehealths out there started offering GLPs after we did – including Hims & Sesame. While we’re new to the telehealth space, our physicians have been prescribing GLPs for years.

Do I need a prescription?
Absolutely! GLP-1’s are a prescription medication and can only be obtained under the care of a medical professional with a valid prescription.

In order for BEWL to provide medication, you must meet with one of our independently contracted physicians to obtain a prescription. All Big Easy Weight Loss physicians are licensed physicians acting as independent contractors.
Can you fill my prescription from my Doctor?
We are not a pharmacy and cannot fill prescriptions written by physicians not contracted with Big Easy Weight Loss.
Do I qualify for weight loss medication?
Eligibility is at the discretion of your independently contracted Big Easy Weight Loss physician & based on your medical history and health goals.

Qualifying criteria generally includes overweight individuals (BMI >27) with a weight-related health condition, obese individuals with a BMI > 30, and individuals seeking maintenance dosage for continued weight loss therapy.

We want to help everyone safely progress towards their weight loss goals. If your physician does not prescribe weight loss medication, regardless of the reason, please contact krewe@joinbigeasy.com for a membership refund.
How much weight will I lose?
Weight loss outcomes will vary individually based on diet, medical conditions, lifestyle adjustments, & physical activity. Generally speaking, individuals using GLP-1 medication based weight loss programs are able to reduce their weight by approximately 15% -20% on average. Results will vary by patient, other medication conditions, and medication being prescribed.
Should I modify my diet while taking weight loss injectables?
Diet modification is an important step in the weight loss process, however, the intention is not to have off-limit foods, but rather take a more healthful approach. Appetite suppression is common with GLP-1 medications, with less caloric intake, it is important to be intentional in choosing quality foods with optimal nutritional value. Our goal is to support your health during on your weight reduction journey and strive towards long-term sustainability.

Have your king cake and eat it too – just be mindful that you aren’t using a splurge as a meal replacement.
Is lab work required?
Lab work is at the discretion of the physician and may be required depending on your personal medical situation. If you have recent labs (within the last year), bring or upload them — that often helps.

Should I lie to get a prescription?

No, lying to obtain a prescription is a felony. Be honest with your physician so they can give you the best possible care.
You don't serve XXX state. Can I ship it to a state that you do serve and have someone reship it to me?

No, reshipping prescription medication can be a felony, even if it’s USPS or a private carrier like UPS or FedEx.
Is Big Easy's platform HIPAA-compliant, and are my records protected under HIPAA?

Yes. Your interaction with any licensed provider (IE a physician, nurse practitioner, clinic, or hospital) is covered by HIPAA. This doesn’t change between a hospital or a telehealth clinic.
Our platform, Healthie is also HIPAA compliant. Here is Healthie’s information on HIPAA compliance, as well as their security and privacy.
Is compounding legal?

Yes. Here is the FDA guidance discussing how 503(a)s can compound.

Here is a great video by Martha M. Rumore (PharmD., Esq., MS, LLM, FAPhA ) (formerly of) Frier Levitt where she discusses the legal environment for compounding (link should take you to the 27:30 mark, where she starts talking about it). Frier Levitt recently won a major case against Novo Nordisk.
What's the difference between 503(a) vs 503(b)?

503(b) Pharmacies:

Pharmacies such as BPI, Nova, PQ, Olympia, Medivant, apothecary are FDA registered 503(b) and/or Drug Manufacturers. They are held to the highest possible standards – FDA’s 21 CFR part 210 and 211 (cMGP). They are inspected by the FDA, and their primary regulator is the FDA. They use the designated drug master file for their medications, every part of their raw material supply chain has to be FDA registered and inspected, and their variance in the medicine has to be next to none. They are held to the same standards as “brand name” drug manufacturers for their processes. Their BUDs have to be supported by testing and procedures audited by the FDA. There are only about 90 503(b)s in the US.

When a drug is in shortage 503(b)s can produce “essentially a commercial copy” to help meet demand. 503(b)s cannot manufacture new medication when the medication is no longer in shortage.

503(a) Pharmacies:

Pharmacies such as OptioRx, Seven Cells, Miller’s, Hallandale, Red Rock, are 503(a). The 12,000 503(a)s in the US are overseen by individual state boards of pharmacy, with wide ranges of enforcement and monitoring. 503(a)s have very different standards. For example, not all states may have adopted USP 797. 797 limits the BUD that you can put on a vial to 6 months, really 45-90 days. What that means is a GLP-1 injectable vial made in a state not following USP 797 can be labeled with a 12-month BUD, while if it was made the same exact way in a neighboring state that did follow USP 797, it would have a 45-90 day BUD. 503(a)s can have about a 10% variance in their manufacturing. Your 10mg script could be 9mg or 11mg.

As a note, Individual 503(a)s can hold themselves to higher standards, but it’s not required.

503(a)s can continue to produce compounded medication under specific guidelines as outlined by the FDCA.

Knowing what you are getting – the standards it’s made to, the sterility, the efficacy, the integrity of the process – 503(b)s run circles around a 503(a) – particularly one out of a state that has delayed enforcement of 797!
Why doesn't Big Easy offer 503(b) exclusively anymore?

While the 503(b) process is a much more verifiable and strenuous standard that compounding pharmacies must meet, their easiest path to compound is when the medication is in shortage. When the medication is not in shortage, we must rely on 503(a)s. Now, there are a lot of developments in this space, so we have seen 503(b)s come back.

One of our main goals is to make this as safe and sustainable as possible, and a pharmacy’s legal inability to compound makes that not sustainable to solely rely on just 503(b)s.

Where can I see current pricing?
For full, up-to-date pricing by state and pharmacy — including new patient discounts and installment options — visit our Treatment Pricing page.

Our prices reflect the total cost of treatment: consultation, shipping, and the cost of medication if prescribed. Treatment pricing does not change based on your current dose.

We have 7 main pharmacy partners and access to 2 dozen others, however the pricing (and turnaround time) may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.

Want to use Klarna or Affirm? No problem! There’s a 3% processing surcharge, but you can skip that by creating a virtual card through Klarna or Affirm and using it at checkout.

We also accept CareCredit.
Do you accept insurance?

At this time, our clinic does not support insurance filing or prior authorizations. Check back periodically for updates.
Can I use my HSA/FSA account?
Yes! During the signup process, there is a dropdown that allows you to select HSA as a payment option. Type in the card information as directed.

Some FSA/HSA cards can be a little dramatic online. If your card is declined, call us at (504) 313-6301 and we can usually process it manually.
Do you provide Superbills or Letters of Medical Necessity?
We do!
When do you charge me?
We charge you when we submit your prescription to the pharmacy, usually the evening of your appointment.
Do you have a membership fee?
No, we do not!
Why should I use you instead of a company that 'cuts out the middleman'?
I love this question – the ‘middleman’ in question for us is a Physician. Every interaction you have at any telehealth platform and encounter (should) have your medication prescribed by a physician (or another prescriber). It is then sent to a pharmacy.

We maintain independence between the physician, platform, and the pharmacy. That’s not an accident, that’s by design. We feel this eliminates conflicts of interest and provides better options for patients, and ultimately, better outcomes.
Do you pay for advertising?
We do not and have not paid influencers, for search results, or for bots on social media.

Outside of a few hundred dollars where we paid to advertise on Facebook initially, we have not done it again in about a year now.

We have paid for banners locally and two great Billboards here in Nola (join our Facebook group or subreddit, and I’m sure you’ll see them).

We rely solely on word of mouth and doing right by people.
Do you have a referral program?
Yes! Visit our Referral Program page for details.

How does the process work?
We’ve built a complete step-by-step walkthrough for new patients. Click here to see our “Start Here” guide — it covers everything from booking your first appointment through receiving your medication and scheduling refills.
I am currently enrolled in another weight management program using GLPs. Can I transition to BEWL?
Yes! Our goal is to make it easy to keep you going without skipping a beat. You will need to create an account, complete intake paperwork, and schedule a virtual visit with an independently contracted Big Easy Weight Loss physician. After meeting with the physician for an evaluation, prescribed medication can be shipped directly to you!
Why don't you have asynchronous (not live) meetings?
We’re exploring it – but as personalized care is at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to prescribing GLPs currently, we feel that live physician care is the best and safest route to that end.

Can we get comfortable with asynchronous? Perhaps, and we’ll continue to explore it. In addition, not every state allows asynchronous for the establishment of a physician-patient relationship (namely New Mexico, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Kansas).

We are exploring using asynchronous for refills only as well.
Why are you using so many 503(a) pharmacies?
As we focus in on personalized care, we need the ability to leverage pharmacies that can provide for many different personalized formulations.

Why don't you have my state? Or why has it taken so long to get my state?
Great question. There is an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for physicians (and NPs too). 39 states + DC & Guam play nice with the physician compact, that effectively allows physicians to pay a fee to get licensed in an additional state. 11 states do not and require a full application process for those states. (If you’re curious it’s: AK, CA, OR, NM, AR, SC, NC, VA, NY, MA, RI – and PR). So Guam is easier to get licensed in than those 11 states. Wild, right?

We’re finally in a place where we have our physicians applying for those remaining states we don’t cover.

Fun fact: Rhode Island approved the compact 3 years ago and still hasn’t gone live for physicians to join.

Want to learn more? Go to imlcc.com.
Are you kidding about Guam?
No. Guam has been a part of the compact for 7 years. And no, we don’t currently have a pharmacy that will service Guam.

Also, fun fact people from Guam are called Guamanians. Not Guammers, Guamese, Guamions, or Guamites. We looked it up.
Why doesn't XYZ pharmacy ship to my state?
Like the IMLCC above, some states make it easy for pharmacists to get licensed in their states by paying a fee. Other states want to come out and physically inspect your pharmacy, even when you’re not in their state (IE California).

Some states want you to take a test in their state to get your license (IE Arkansas) – as in you have to fly to Arkansas and pass their test to get licensed. It’s a bit of a process.
Can I join Big Easy Weight Loss from anywhere?
We are a virtual telehealth platform, our providers & services are accessible to you wherever you may be! We currently serve ALL states EXCEPT Arkansas.

We are excited to continue expanding our licensing by adding additional states into our practice. Check back for an additional list of states or email us at krewe@joinbigeasy.com to inquire about a specific location.

Who are your physicians?
Big Easy does not employ physicians, but our role as a technology platform allows us to help you access amazing independent contract physicians who have contracts with Big Easy, independently.

There are 9 amazing physicians with a wide range of backgrounds. They have decades of experience, and heck, one even graduated Harvard. One is retired, but didn’t want to stop practicing. Some moonlight doing this while working as clinicians during the day. One has their own practice, and does this while they build up their practice. Some are just burned out from hospital systems, and prefer the engagement and flexibility of telehealth.
Are your physicians paid a commission for prescribing?
Absolutely not. We pay them for their time in front of patients, and their compensation is in no way tied to whether or not they prescribe.

Interested in being a physician with our team? Shoot us a message at krewe@joinbigeasy.com!