Recently a Capital New York article http://www.capitalnewyork.com * noted: “A new report analyzing the costs of widespread use of the lifesaving hepatitis C drug Sovaldi found the drug could cost New York State’s Medicaid program $3.6 billion per year.The drug costs $1,000 per pill and is part of a 12-week treatment regimen, meaning the full course of drug therapy costs about $84,000 per patient.””
“Many patients infected with hepatitis C are poor or have a history of drug abuse, and receive health insurance through Medicaid, the federal insurance program for lower income individuals. But the drug’s pricing has led to an outcry among federal lawmakers and state government officials who argue widespread use of Sovaldi would explode state Medicaid budgets. The report from Express Scripts, a pharmacy-benefit management company, found state governments could spend $55 billion a year on Sovaldi.”
“In New York, the estimated $3.6 billion cost would mean an average expense for each resident of $184 a year, the study showed. New York has one of the largest Medicaid programs in the country, at $54 billion a year. It also has one of the largest hepatitis C populations: state officials estimate as many as 200,000 people are infected statewide, 75 percent of whom are unaware they have the disease. “
“The report called Sovaldi a “breakthrough therapy,” but said “it is also likely to break state budgets.”Since healthcare for so many hepatitis C patients is funded by state programs, each citizen will be shouldering the unprecedented cost burden. The unsustainable pricing of this medication has essentially become a tax on all Americans,” the report said.”
* to read the full CNY article “Report: Hepatitis C Drug Could Cost New York $3.6 Billion”by Laura Nahmias , highlight and click on open hyperlink http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8549151/capital-politics-digest-july-17-2014
Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands? ™ provides information to consumers on understanding, managing and navigating health care options.
Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration
This blog shares general information about understanding and navigating the health care system. For specific medical advice about your own problems, issues and options talk to your personal physician.