States erect many hurdles in approving Sovaldi

[Mike]

This article highlights managed care and HCV treatment approval:


http://t.co/znqFsoUoJj

Best wishes, Mike

[yag1064]

The issue is all about money and how it leads to decisions being made that effect the ones who really need the cure. I couldn't believe that each pill I took was worth $1000.00. Not including Ribavirn and interferion The drug maker spent some of it's money, time, and resources to bring this pill into existence. Their point of view is "returns for the investors". The thing that seems to have changed is the method used to spread out the cost. It's my opinion that Gilead wants the return upfront. This has opened the discussions like the one that you pointed to. Health care in general is changing. I was turned down twice before I received approval for the treatment. As the article stated, the section of the population most effected by this disease is the elderly and those with low income. So they may believe that some type of hurtle is just. That is just the way it is. However, the Gilead group offers a way for people to get the medicine at low or no cost. So avenues are there, maybe not so obvious.   My point is that I am disappointed in the way things are being driven. I believe it is part of our cultural rule on who gets what and there is no short time solution. Having said that, I believe there is still a way for people to get the medicine they need. 

[Red Hen]

An interesting article. Things are changing every day for insurance, medicare, medicaid, what gets covered and what doesn't. Drug companies say they need to be compensated for research. Of course, they do get money from the government and universities, etc. as well as money from consumers. I hope more and more hep c drugs are approved so that competition might bring prices down. I do think that the drug companies have various ways for poor people ( and we are all too poor to pay $1,000 per pill ) to get medication. However, it isn't always easy or simple to do.