Denied Treatment for Drug Use

[george227]

After testing positive for Hep C was put in program at UAMS in Little Rock. After a fibroscan score of 14 and talking to the Dr. she asked when i last used and i truthfully told her about a week ago. That ended everything right there. I was informed that one of the rules of this program was to get treatment you have to be drug free. I said, "why does it affect the medication" and was told No but "we can't help you till you help yourself". I replied then ya'll are going to let this kill addicts and was shown the door. Very surprised being that UAMS is so highly praised for helping out everyone. Is there somewhere i can go for treatment where it don't matter if your an addict? In Arkansas.

[Lynn K]

If you are using IV drugs unfortunately your risk of reinfection is very high. So as the meds cost upwards of $94,500.00 dollars for a 12 week treatment with Harvoni for example I am sure you can understand their hesitance to treat you when you are basically guaranteed to become reinfected.

Is it possible for you to get treatment for your addiction and stop using? This would be the best course of action for your long term health.

Best of luck

[george227]

No, i don't use intraveneously.

[Lynn K]

Unfortunately some state insurers will not permit if the patient is using any drugs even marijuana.

If this is a road block to your treatment and you care about your health enough to treat your hep c is it possible you could demonstrate your care about your health by quitting any illegal drugs? If they are legally prescribed to you it should not be a bar to treatment.

I am not saying personally anything about your drug use but really the ball is in your court do you want to protect your health prevent any further liver damage? If so you know what you are being required to do. Under the circumstances you should consider quitting any illegal drugs so you can get treatment. If you can't quit in your own I am sure you know there is help available.

Your life, your choice

[george227]

Why don't they cure everyone they can? Is there a shortage of the medicine? It's just another form of discrimination. I will find another way to get treatment believe me however my view of UAMS has been shattered. So fuck'em. India here i come.

[Lynn K]

Severalhere have been able to order meds from outside the US I believe you could check fix hep c dot com not sure of the specific address but hopefully someone else can provide that info oryou can search the forum for some posts.

There were people here with fibrosis F2 who were told they were not sick enough and to come back when they had near cirrhosis. Just sadly the insurance trying to keep costs down. So the issue is probably with your insurance. Can you go to a different doctor to see if you can find a way around this? But still I do think the simplest solution would be to comply and stop using drugs.

From what you said it does not sound like you are a daily user could you abstain for a period of time so you can be treated?

Anyway wishing you good luck