State inmates may get costly hepatitis C drug

LANSING (AP) - A new hepatitis C treatment that costs $1,000 pill is expected to be available to Michigan inmates. The Detroit News reports the Michigan Department of Corrections 2015 budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, includes $4.4 million for the drug, which holds promise for a cure for the liver-damaging disease. Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan says pills will be "targeted to the serious cases where the traditional hepatitis C drugs have been ineffective." Meanwhile, Michigan Department of Community Health spokeswoman Angela Minicuci says the drug is being provided on a "case by case" basis to non-inmate Medicaid patients. Illinois and other states are restricting Sovaldi's use, according to a July 23 earnings call held by the drug's maker, California-based Gilead Sciences Inc. The Food and Drug Administration approved Sovaldi in December. Published: Fri, Aug 01, 2014