The cost to taxpayers of treating
Washington, D.C.-area military veterans suffering from hepatitis C has
eclipsed $64 million per year, according to a review of U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs records by the News4 I-Team.
The
fast-rising cost is attributed to a cutting-edge but expensive
medication the agency began dispensing last year to veterans in
Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and West Virginia.
The
new hepatitis C drugs, which are known as Sovaldi and Harvoni, are
highly effective and less likely to cause side effects in patients,
doctors and government officials said. Multiple reports estimate a full
treatment of the medication costs tens of thousands of dollars per
patient. Each individual pill costs an estimated $1,000, according to a report from a U.S. Senate panel.
Agency
records obtained by the I-Team from regional administrators of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs show 701 patients received the treatment
at the Washington DC VA Medical Center in 2015. Those records show more
than 200 patients were administered the medications at the Martinsburg
VA Medical Center and more than 480 patients at Maryland’s VA medical
system last year. In all, the cost of treatment exceeded $64 million,
which is a $50 million increase from the cost of Hepatitis C treatment
in 2014.
| VA Medical Center | Harvoni | Sovaldi |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 634 patients | 67 patients |
| Martinsburg, WV | 47 patients | 156 patients |
| Maryland | 363 patients | 119 patients |
All costs are covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and federal taxpayers.
Nationwide,
the VA estimates the new treatment will cost $1 billion in 2016. But
the agency said it has secured enough funding to expand the dispensation
of the medicine to an increasing number of vets.
“We’re
honored to be able to expand treatment for veterans who are afflicted
with hepatitis C,” VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin said
in a statement. “To manage limited resources previously, we established
treatment priority for the sickest patients. “
Chris
Goldzwig, a military veteran from Brunswick, Maryland, said his
treatment of Harvoni saved him from suffering severe liver failure.
“It’s a miracle,” Goldzwig said. “If it wasn’t for this medicine, I wouldn’t be here.”
Goldzwig,
who received his treatment over the course of 16 weeks at the
Martinsburg VA Medical Center, said the Harvoni pills were less rigorous
and physically challenging than his previous hepatitis C treatment, an
interferon regimen that Goldzwig called nauseating.
Dr.
Evelio Bravo, a physician at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, said
the pills have a very high success rate with local patients.
“Years
ago, the (older) treatment was very complicated with side effects,”
Bravo said. “The patient would feel ill during the treatment.”
“VA
has long led the country in screening for and treating hepatitis C,” a
statement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said. “VA has
treated over 76,000 Veterans infected with hepatitis C and approximately
60,000 have been cured.”
Members
of Congress have criticized the manufacturer of the medicine for not
offering a deeper discount to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“America's
veterans deserve the same affordable access to life-saving medications
such as sofosbuvir that Gilead is providing to patients in developing
countries. If that’s not happening, the company’s leaders need to
explain why,” said Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the U.S. House
Veterans Affairs Committee.
A spokeswoman for Gilead, the manufacturer of Sovaldi and Harvoni, said price discounts are offered for the medication.
“Most
payers receive substantial discounts off this price, with the steepest
discounts going to payers like Medicaid and the VA,” spokeswoman Cara
Miller said. “Both the VA and Medicaid currently receive discounts in
excess of 50 percent on Harvoni. With these rebates and discounts, the
prices today are less than the cost of prior regimens.”
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