News in gay Atlanta of a drug that can eradicate previously incurable Hepatitis-C in 99 percent of cases was tainted last week by the state picking and choosing who can get it, excluding thousands of HIV-positive patients. It’s renewed a clarion call by activists to expand Medicaid.
The 12-week drug regimen known as V-Pak works, but it’s expensive – as much as $80,000 per patient. The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, which includes Georgia, negotiated a discount to about half price, but each state must decide whether or not to offer it under various programs.
In Georgia, that meant Hepatitis C patients under Medicaid will get V-Pak. But HIV-positive people with Hep C on ADAP, the HIV prescription assistance program, can’t. State agencies say they’re hamstrung by the cost to offer life-saving treatment to some and deny it to others, according to WABE.
Read more...
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Friday, February 6, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Expensive Hepatitis C Cure ─ Georgia Decides Who Gets It, Who Doesn't
There’s a new drug on the market that’s up to 99 percent effective at curing hepatitis C, an often deadly liver virus. The drug is known as “V-pak.”
Some Georgians will get it.
But thousands of HIV-positive Georgians, who also have hepatitis C, won't.
The reason? Cost.
Read more and listen to the podcast here....
Some Georgians will get it.
But thousands of HIV-positive Georgians, who also have hepatitis C, won't.
The reason? Cost.
Read more and listen to the podcast here....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)