Hepatitis C Drug Discount Deals Still Miss Many Patients

Of the estimated three million Americans estimated to have Hepatitis C, about one-third are covered by Medicaid, according to industry reports. About 70 percent of Medicaid recipients are covered by managed care plans, according to Medicaid Health Plans of America, a trade group representing private health plans that contract with health insurance programs for the poor to administer their medical benefits.

Jeff Myers, chief executive officer for Medicaid Health Plans of America called the CVS Health and Express Scripts deals a “fantastic first step in bringing pricing rationality for this population.”

“But unfortunately the prices we’re starting from are at such a ridiculously high level because of the pharmaceutical companies’ pricing model that states still will find it difficult to manage these treatment costs,” Myers said in a statement to Forbes.

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