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.