Hepatitis C patients on Medicaid will now have easier access to the drugs that treat the disease.

The state of Illinois is relaxing a policy that limited drug coverage the only the sickest patients, those with stage 4 liver scarring.

Now, Medicaid will cover drug costs for those with stage 3 scarring.

The life saving drugs can cost close to $100,000 for one 12-week regimen. But increased competition means prices are dropping

 According to state data, 12,000 Illinoisans covered by Medicaid had hepatitis C as of last year.