Hep C Drug Trends: Cost Driver In 2014, But “Leveling Off” Coming, CMS Actuaries Say

CMS actuaries attribute an increase in health spending in 2014 to the expansion of Medicaid and private health insurance coverage and rapid growth in retail drug spending, particularly for new hep C drugs.

The full picture of the remarkable uptake of the new generation of hepatitis C drugs and the impact of coverage expansions led by the Affordable Care Act on national health spending for 2014 is now clear.

The dual factors of coverage expansion and rapid growth in retail prescription drug spending led to a much faster rate...

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