Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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Cost Analysis of Sof/Riba vs. Sof/Sim

allaboutliving
allaboutliving
http://hepatitiscresearchandnewsupdates.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/cost-analysis-of-sofosbuvirribavirin.html

Conclusions: These results suggest that a 12-wk course of SOF/SMV (Sovaldi & Olysio) is a more cost-effective tx for genotype 1 CHC vs. 24 wks of SOF/RBV (Solvadi/Riba) among interferon-ineligible/intolerant individuals, supporting the AASLD/IDSA guidance & offering implications for both clinical and regulatory decision-making as well as pharmaceutical pricing. (Hepatology 2014;)

Still disappointed that the FDA recommended combo for geno 1a is Sovaldi, interferon & riba for 12 wks ... so even though we know S&O works it is consistently being denied by insurers. Get with the program FDA & Insurers!!! Dang it...I want my meds. Can you tell? I'm having a hissy fit.
jaro
jaro
So true. I'm 1a and am in appeal with my insurance...
gooser1
gooser1
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield seems to be the biggest stinker there is!
catmagic
catmagic
You and the others are absolutely entitled to be livid about this situation. What a crock - Sovaldi + Interferon + Ribavirin. I am SURE it works, but what works in that mix is the SOVALDI. And what costs are associated with rescue meds and procedures like transfusions even if a Geno 1 does Sovaldi/Riba for 24 weeks? Does insurance balk at ALL "high cost" treatments? I think not. THEIR problem is that the cure is here - Sovaldi - the drug we've been waiting for for a LONG time - and gee, too bad, all of a sudden, many many many docs. are prescribing it in one combo or another for their HCV patients, and GEE, it "costs too much." B/S!

The light for all of you (and maybe me if Sova/Oly should not effect SVR24) is Sovaldi/Ledipasvir, coming to the specialty pharm nearest you. BUT what is the cost of that going to be? We know it won't be cheap. Will insurance balk at that too? It's INHUMANE to do so, but we are seeing just how flawed our healthcare system is ... ACA or not. To approve for some (like lucky me) but not others - that is unethical, as if they care.

My HCV nurse believes that Sovaldi will go down in price by the time they put it out with Ledipasvir. Let's hope so. I doubt my insurance would pay for another round of tx with Sovaldi if the one I'm on fails me if the price remains INSANE.

Keep hope alive, though... we must.
catmagic
catmagic
I should have written "Geno 1, 2 and 3" since Sovaldi can be used with all three.

I guess we're supposed to remember that HCV is "slow moving" ???? Well, for decades, yes. But once it starts getting aggressive, which it did for me in the fourth decade of unwillingly hosting the beast, it moves FAST.