Treating Medicaid Patients With Hepatitis C: Clinical and Economic Impact

Media Coverage of this Article
Feb 22
‘Treat-All’ Medicaid Policy Improves Outcomes, Reduces Healthcare Costs in HCV
A restrictive Medicaid policy in many states limits hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment to patients with severe disease, which leads to suboptimal treatment outcomes, high patient burden, and excessive costs. Now, a new study showed that a “treat-all” Medicaid approach offers better outcomes, considerably reduces healthcare costs, and patients are less prone to develop other diseases.

Treating Medicaid Patients With Hepatitis C: Clinical and Economic Impact

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To estimate change in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease and the economic burden associated with comprehensive treatment of the chronic HCV–infected Medicaid population.

Study Design: Decision-analytic Markov model.

Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 chronic HCV were followed over a lifetime horizon from the third-party payer perspective. Patients entered the model insured under Medicaid and were treated under state-specific restrictions by Metavir fibrosis stage (base case) or all treated (all-patient strategy) with an approved all-oral regimen (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir [LDV/SOF] for 8 weeks or 12 weeks, depending on cirrhosis status, viral load, and state-specific LDV/SOF restrictions). Untreated patients were assumed to age into Medicare at 65 years, where they were treated with LDV/SOF without restriction by fibrotic stage.

Results: The sustained virologic response (SVR) rate of the current Medicaid LDV/SOF restriction strategy was 75.2% versus 95.9% if all LDV/SOF-eligible patients were treated under Medicaid. Treating all eligible Medicaid patients with LDV/SOF, regardless of fibrotic stage, was projected to result in 36,752 fewer cases of cirrhosis; 1739 fewer liver transplants; 8169 fewer cases of hepatocellular carcinoma; 16,173 fewer HCV-related deaths; 0.84 additional life-years per patient; and 1.03 additional quality-adjusted life-years per patient. Treating all Medicaid patients with chronic HCV using LDV/SOF resulted in a 39.4% ($3.8 billion) savings and decreased the proportion of total costs attributable to downstream costs of care to 18.3%.

Conclusions: A “treat all” strategy in a Medicaid population resulted in superior SVRs, substantial reductions in downstream negative clinical outcomes, and considerable cost savings. Current restrictive state policies regarding HCV treatment in Medicaid populations must be reassessed in light of these data.

Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(2):107-112

http://www.ajmc.com/journals/issue/2017/2017-vol23-n2/treating-medicaid-patients-with-hepatitis-c-clinical-and-economic-impact#sthash.pb3cmUV4.dpuf

Takeaway Points

A restrictive Medicaid policy in many states limits hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment to patients with severe disease, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes, high patient burden, and excess costs. This analysis estimated change in HCV disease and the economic burden associated with comprehensive treatment of eligible Medicaid patients with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF). A “treat all” strategy led to: 

• Increased sustained virologic response rates were 95.9% if all LDV/SOF-eligible patients were treated under Medicaid versus 75.2% under the current Medicaid LDV/SOF restriction strategy.
• Improved clinical outcomes: 36,752 fewer cases of cirrhosis; 1739 fewer liver transplants; 8169 fewer cases of hepatocellular carcinoma; 16,173 fewer HCV-related deaths; 0.84 additional life-years per patient; and 1.03 additional quality-adjusted life-years per patient. 
• A $3.8-billion overall savings in healthcare costs.

Continue reading.....