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Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Medicaid pays big bucks for meds
Post Info TOPIC: Medicaid pays big bucks for meds
Isiscat2011


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RE: Medicaid pays big bucks for meds
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By shifting the burden back to the taxpayers pharma can get taxpayers to turn on the patients instead of pharma.  I can't count how many times I have heard people complain that they shouldn't have to pay for expensive drugs/health care for others.  That sentiment misses the point that the exorbitant costs of drugs/healthcare is the problem.  Just goes to show how effective propaganda can be at creating chaos and shifting blame. 

And the prices are only getting higher; there are a number of drugs far more expensive than HepC tx drugs and some of them are for very long term usage. At some point price controls will have to be set unless we want more people dying of treatable diseases.  I actually think the HepC drugs could be the catalyst for change; maybe just wishful thinking. 

Taxpayer dollars could be used for so many other worthwhile things if pharma/healthcare costs were reasonable and treating everyone who needs tx wouldn't even be an issue.  I am constantly amazed that this insanity is supported by any rational person. 



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Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
Jaded


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Not to mention that the cystic fibrosis treatment is life long.

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64 year old EOT 10-28-15,SVR24 April 21 2016  ALT-12/AST-23 June '19 - fibroscan 6.9 F-0 July '19
Isiscat2011


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Here's what the pharmaceutical company's CCO had to say when asked why Vertex couldn't help out:

"Vertex Chief Commercial Officer Stuart Arbuckle said the company has never provided free Kalydeco to Medicaid patients. If Vertex gives Kalydeco free to the Arkansas Medicaid patients, it could lead other states to establish similar eligibility criteria, Mr. Arbuckle said. The patient-assistance program, he said, "isn't there to subsidize Medicaid, which is there to provide medical care to poor families."

The patient assistant program isn't there to help the poor who can't access the drugs!  Let the taxpayers pick up the bill for the obscenely priced drugs (and let them eat cake).  Very nice, Mr. Arbuckle.  I'm sure there is a special place in heaven for kind-hearted guys like you.



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
Isiscat2011


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I thought this was interesting because it illuminates that there are more expensive treatments than HepC tx ($300,000. per year for a cystic fibrosis drug) and all but one state (Arkansas) is paying for those on Medicaid who need it.  

Arkansas is being sued for civil rights violations for its refusal to pay.  Not an identical situation to HepC tx but analogous in many respects.  http://online.wsj.com/articles/costly-drug-vertex-is-denied-and-medicaid-patients-sue-1405564205

 



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
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