In the past, Hepatitis C meant a harrowing death sentence as nearly 20,000 Americans perished from the disease yearly and millions more were stricken, per the data provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thankfully, science came up with a potent cure to stop the scourge but no thanks to Centene Corp. Hepatitis C will likely continue to kill.
The wonder drug is not cheap and cancer patients depend on their insurers to foot the bill. Tragically though, Centene is bound not to honor its commitment on most or all cases of Hepatitis C that supposedly were covered by its policy. It appears that for the company, the standard practice is to restrict access to medical treatment until the disease has reached an irreversible stage.
Centene Refuses Early Treatment For Hepatitis C
In 2014, a Hepatitis C cure known as direct-acting antiviral (DDA) treatment was approved for safe use. The CDC said the rate of success attributed to the drug is more than 94%, adding there were instances that patients have been found free of Hepatitis C after eight to 12 weeks of treatment.
However, the miracle of the drug can only be effectively deployed if insurers like Centene will throw their full support, like funding the process without delay. It was heartbreaking that the company chose to play hardball on such claims. As always the case, it’s business first for Centene, and having compassion for suffering patients will not increase its revenue.
That is why the insurance firm the insurance is turning pleas for early treatment of Hepatitis C using DDA, and its rationale: the insurance coverage has a sort of pecking order, like treat the sickest first. Centene’s policy states that funding will be approved guided strictly by fibrosis-based coverage.
Yes, that reads correct – the giant insurer, which is a Fortune 500 company, favors the delay of Hepatitis C treatment until such time that liver fibrosis or cirrhosis has been clearly diagnosed. Essentially, Centene’s sickening policy is waiting for cancer to take full control before it will be prompted to give what is due to a patient.
The policy is heartless but Centene officials maintain that the guideline in effect “is consistent with standards of medical practice current at the time that this clinical policy was approved.” With regards to the DDA treatment, the insurer stressed that it’s only necessary for cases where fibrosis is apparent.
Experts Shoot Down Centene’s Flimsy Argument
Such a line of reasoning, however, did not sit well with medical experts. According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), it was not hard to see that Centene is toying with the lives of the already distressed Hepatitis C patients. The group made clear that it’s more economical to go for early treatment and strongly suggested that a fibrosis-based coverage policy should be outlawed.
By its estimate, the AASLD said DDA treatment will likely involve a maximum of 84 pills for a patient. The cost is relatively cheaper than the unthinkable option pushed by Centene – that is to wait out for cirrhosis and other complications to develop. If that happens, the only solution left is a liver transplant and it points to higher expenses.
The bottom line is it would be best for Centene to practice some form of humanity, which is mutually good for the soul and one’s pocket. In any case, AASLD has found an ally in New York attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman, who stressed that fibrosis restriction is deceptive and insurers like Centene must stop such practice.
