VA expands hepatitis C treatment to all patients with the virus

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http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/03/09/va-expands-hepatitis-c-treatment-all-patients-virus/81547558/

VA expands hepatitis C treatment to all patients with the virus

Patricia Kime, Military Times 6:22 p.m. EST March 9, 2016

The Veterans Affairs Department will begin providing hepatitis C treatment to all veterans in its health system who have the virus, regardless of their disease stage, VA officials said Wednesday. Having received a boost in funding from Congress late last year for the costly medications needed to cure hepatitis C, the VA is now able to treat the 174,000 veterans in its health system who have the disease, according to a VA release.

VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin said that while the cost previously was too prohibitive to treat all but the sickest patients, VA now can treat all veterans with the virus who are eligible for VA health care, either in a VA facility or through the Veterans Choice program.

“We’re honored to be able to expand treatment for veterans who are afflicted with hepatitis C,” Shulkin said. “Additionally, if veterans are currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice program, they can now turn to their local VA facility for this treatment or elect to continue to receive treatment through Choice.”

Since 2014, VA has treated 42,000 hepatitis C patients with the medication sofosbuvir. In fiscal 2015, the department designated $696 million, or 17 percent of its total pharmacy budget, for the drug. It expects to spend $1 billion for medications containing sofosbuvir in fiscal 2016.
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The Food and Drug Administration in January approved a different medication, Zepatier, made by Merck, to treat the disease. In a release on Wednesday, Merck executives said they priced the medication "to broaden and accelerate access to treatment for patients covered in commercial or public plans, including our country’s veterans."
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