…in two-thirds of U.S. states, Medicaid treatment is restricted to people with advanced disease, preventing access to treatment for those who don’t have private insurance.
Among the other factors: Some patients and doctors may not consider treatment a priority because of a lack of symptoms and disease progression, some people may not be aware of available treatments, and some may be “lost” in the health care system, the researchers said.
Risk factors for hepatitis C infection include injection drug use, medical or dental procedures abroad, unsterile tattoos and piercings and blood transfusions received before 1992, when all blood donated in the United States started being screened for hepatitis C.
“We have the tools to eliminate hepatitis C in the U.S.,” said Michael Ninburg, president-elect of the World Hepatitis Alliance. “We have effective cures for hepatitis C, and also effective vaccination to prevent hepatitis B.”
“Now, we just have to make ending hepatitis a political priority and prevent hundreds of thousands of needlessly premature deaths,” he added.
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.