California is taking an important step toward making hepatitis C treatment easier to access.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1843 into law on Sept. 27. Authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, the new law removes a major insurance barrier that can delay people from receiving medications that cure hepatitis C.
AB 1843 prevents health insurance companies from requiring health care providers to obtain prior authorization before covering hepatitis C medications. These requirements can delay treatment for weeks or months, even though today’s medications can cure more than 95% of hepatitis C cases, often in just eight to 12 weeks.
An estimated 400,000 Californians are living with hepatitis C. Without treatment, the virus can cause serious liver damage, liver cancer and even death. Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person with the virus enters another person’s bloodstream.
California’s Medicaid program has already eliminated prior authorization requirements for hepatitis C treatment, but many private insurers have continued to require them.
By removing these barriers, AB 1843 is expected to help more Californians begin treatment sooner and get cured.
Golden Rule Services offers free hepatitis C testing. Knowing your status is the first step. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit sacgrs.org.
