Medicaid Improves Patient Access to Hepatitis C Drugs in Majority of States

State Medicaid programs made it easier for patients to access hepatitis C medication. These changes take into consideration the stage of a patient’s liver disease, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. However, some barriers in accessing these drugs remain.

“Since 2017, 32 states have either removed or eliminated restrictions based on a patient’s stage of liver disease, 21 have loosened rules that required patients to demonstrate they have not abused or drug or alcohol for a period of time before starting treatment, and 25 state scaled back prescribing restrictions for health care providers.” Read more here.

(Source: Ed Silverman, STAT News, 5/19/21)