CHICAGO (AP) - With three out of four Americans who are infected unaware they have hepatitis C, Illinois lawmakers last month approved a measure to fight what’s been called a silent epidemic.
The state’s largest doctors group is now urging Gov. Bruce Rauner to veto the bill that would require doctors to offer blood tests for the contagious liver disease to baby boomers - those born between 1945 and 1965. That’s been the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2012.
Doctors don’t need lawmakers telling them to follow guidelines, the Illinois State Medical Society insists.
The legislation “intrudes on the physician’s judgment and relationship with the patient, and doesn’t guarantee that patients who do test positive for this liver disease will have access to treatment, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars,” said Illinois State Medical Society President Dr. Scott Cooper.
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Friday, March 6, 2015
David E. Miller: New hepatitis C treatments save lives, reduce expensive complications
"If Illinois expands access to new hepatitis C medicines, it not only will save lives and relieve untold patient suffering, it dramatically will reduce long-term health care costs resulting from this awful disease."
After decades of research and clinical trials, we have new cures for hepatitis C, the most prevalent and deadliest blood-borne viral disease in the United States.
Until now, hepatitis C treatments have been long, painful and even life-threatening, with low cure rates of 40 to 65 percent. Consequently, up to 85 percent of patients discontinue treatment before they finish.
Still, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services set tight restrictions on innovative hepatitis C treatments. Only patients with the highest degree of liver damage who meet a set of 25 criteria can have access.
- See more at: http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150305/OPINION/150309693/2011/OPINION#sthash.e3ELmAZa.dpuf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)