Trending News Today: Louisiana, Asegua Partner for 5-Year Hepatitis C Treatment Plan

The Louisiana Department of Health and Asegua Therapeutics have partnered for a 5-year hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment plan designed to eliminate HCV in the state, MD Magazine reported. According to the article, the payment model will allow the state to purchase an unlimited amount of direct-acting antiviral therapy from Asegua over a 5-year contract period. The model will likely benefit the 39,000-patient population infected with HCV among Louisiana’s Medicaid program and prison system, the article reported.

A new study showed that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) face a significant economic burden due to their disease, regardless of their level of disability, The American Journal of Managed Care reported. According to the article, the study included 199 patients from 19 clinics across Spain who had relapsing-remitting MS and primary progressive MS. Overall, the findings demonstrated that indirect and caregiving costs are incurred even at low level of physical disability, the article reported.

A recent study found that income inequality is the most common predictor of differences health outcomes for Americans, NPR reported. According to the article, the study drew from annual health survey data collected by the CDC from 1993 to 2017, including approximately 5.5 million Americans ages 18 to 64 years old. Across all groups, the data showed that Americans’ self-reported health has declined since 1993, with income being the biggest predictor of differences in health outcomes, the article reported.