To eliminate hepatitis C, more than 260,000 people should be treated every year. Right now, not enough people with hepatitis C are being treated yearly to reach the nation’s viral hepatitis elimination goals. The number of people treated was highest in 2015 and declined to its lowest level in 2020.
- When safe and effective direct-acting antiviral treatment first became available in 2014, it cost about $90,000 per patient; while cost has come down considerably, the high cost of treatment remains a barrier to treatment for many.
- Many insurance providers still have restrictions in place, preventing many people with hepatitis C from accessing lifesaving treatments. These include:
- The patient must have liver damage (called “fibrosis”).
- The doctor who writes the prescription must be a liver disease or infectious disease specialist.
- The patient must be sober.
- The doctor must receive preauthorization approval from the insurance provider to start treatment.
- Treatment is not routinely integrated into primary health care.
- Not enough primary care providers are treating hepatitis C.
Very Few People with Hepatitis C and Insurance Receive Treatment
Even among insured people, only about 1 in 3 receive timely hepatitis C treatment, and this is even lower among people with Medicaid.
People with Hepatitis C Face Multiple Barriers to Receiving Treatment
Eliminating insurance restrictions and expanding the number of primary care doctors treating the infection can improve access to treatment.
Everyone can:
- Get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime.
- Talk to a provider to start treatment and get cured if you have hepatitis C.
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