Head-to-head · WeighScore
Ascend Medical vs Luma Health Co
The verdict
Luma Health Co takes it — 75/100 to 55.9/100.
Luma Health Co grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. Luma Health Co is a nurse-practitioner-led virtual weight-loss and wellness clinic founded by Tiffani McKnight, FNP-C.
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Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | Ascend Medical | Luma Health Co |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 55.9/100 | 75/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #425 | #59 |
| Semaglutide | Not disclosed | $120/mo (plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | $180/mo (compounded) |
| Coverage | 2 states | 30 states |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Oral / sublingual | Injection only | Injection only |
Graded #425 · C
Strengths
- Whole-person virtual primary care that includes a medical weight loss program
- Staffed by licensed MDs, DOs, NPs and PAs
- Integrates weight loss with primary, mental health and diabetes care
- Clear state availability (Georgia and Texas)
Where it loses points
- Available only in Georgia and Texas
- Specific GLP-1 medications and branded-vs-compounded status not published
- No pricing disclosed on public pages
- Weight loss is one service among many, not a dedicated GLP-1 specialist
Graded #59 · C
Strengths
- Transparent, competitive pricing published up front — compounded semaglutide from $120/mo, tirzepatide from $180/mo, retatrutide from $170/mo
- No subscription, monthly fee or membership — a direct-to-patient model where you pay per medication, and follow-up visits are free
- Free initial consults for first responders, law enforcement, military, nurses and teachers ($0), and $25 for other healthcare workers
- Founded and led by a named family nurse practitioner (Tiffani McKnight, FNP-C) licensed across 30 states/DC, with HIPAA-compliant virtual visits
- HSA/FSA funds and financing accepted, with itemized invoices for HSA/FSA submission
Where it loses points
- Offers compounded retatrutide (labeled "RTT/GLP-3"), an investigational triple agonist not FDA-approved — a higher-risk, less-studied option
- Compounded medications only — no brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound or Ozempic — and compounded GLP-1s aren't FDA-reviewed or approved
- No LegitScript certification shown and no compounding-pharmacy partner named, so the dispensing pharmacy can't be independently verified
- Small, newly established founder-led practice with a thin website and limited public track record or third-party reviews
- Medication prices are "starting at" and billed on top of a one-time consult fee, so the true first-month cost runs higher than the headline
Also worth a look
Neither is our top-graded pick — CoreAge Rx leads the scorecard
Across all 499 providers, CoreAge Rx grades highest at 91.8/100 (A−). Top of the scorecard: flat transparent pricing, both molecules, nationwide — no teaser-rate games.
Pricing/verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last grading; the WeighScore is our editorial judgment per the methodology. Prices change — confirm on each provider's site. Not medical advice; see our disclosure.