Not Enough HCV Treatment, per CDC

A new CDC Vital Signs report finds that too few people diagnosed with hepatitis C are being treated, despite availability of medications capable of curing this viral infection. According to CDC’s estimates:

• Overall, fewer than 1 in 3 people with health insurance get direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C within a year of diagnosis.

• Treatment is lowest among patients in state-administered Medicaid plans, with fewer than 1 in 4 Medicaid recipients (23%) being treated within a year of diagnosis.

• Additionally, Medicaid recipients in states that restrict access to hepatitis C treatment are 23% less likely to receive treatment than Medicaid recipients in states without restrictions.