This decision comes in the wake of an injunction received by Washington state’s Medicaid program last Friday to provide hepatitis C drugs for all patients, regardless of sickness level. The ruling responded to a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of two Washington Medicaid recipients who were denied the costly drug.
Prior to the Florida amendment, patients could only receive the hepatitis C drug if they were at a fibrosis level of three or four, meaning they had extensive liver damage. Under the new criteria, fibrosis level is no longer a requirement.
Patients typically require two to six months of treatment with the drug, which can cost up to $180,000. Depending on patient history and the type of drug being used, medications are 96 to 100 percent effective.
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