Friday, October 10, 2014

As Hepatitis Pill Harvoni Joins Sovaldi, States Erect Medicaid Hurdles

As Hepatitis Pill Harvoni Joins Sovaldi, States Erect Medicaid Hurdles
Bruce Japsen
Here are some examples cited of what the Viohl study said some state Medicaid programs are doing to curb Sovaldi costs.... 
several states, including Arizona, have implemented a “once in a lifetime” rule that allows Medicaid patients one opportunity at treatment with Sovaldi 
Alaska requires the patient candidate for Sovaldi to abstain from using drugs and alcohol for at least three months. Then, the patient has to submit to a urine test to verify being drug free 
West Virginia only allows a board certified gastroenterologist, hepatologist or infectious disease specialist to prescribe Sovaldi 
Several states won’t pay for any lost or stolen Sovaldi 
Illinois, which requires patients to meet more than two dozen criteria before they get Sovaldi, will only dispense the drug for two weeks at a time for a total of 12 weeks.

Read the full article here.....


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