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Abstract Details
Disparities in Access to Direct Acting Antiviral Regimens for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): The Impact of Race and Insurance Status
Younossi ZM1,2. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018 Jul 18. doi: 10.1038/s41395-018-0200-y. [Epub ahead of print]
Author information
1
Department of Medicine, Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA, USA. zobair.younossi@inova.org.
2
Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA. zobair.younossi@inova.org.
Abstract
Despite highly effective and well-tolerated regimens for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV), patients face barriers in accessing treatment. In addition to suboptimal HCV screening programs and lack of effective linkage-to-care, other barriers include strict requirements from some payers to cover treatment. This study reports insurance status and Hispanic ethnicity as predictors of not receiving treatment. These barriers occur despite the fact that HCV is the most common indication for liver transplantation and cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S. Therefore, it is critical that policymakers bring all the stakeholders together and develop a national policy to eradicate HCV infection from the U.S.