CVS Health Corp., one of the largest U.S. managers of drug
benefits, said it would give the hepatitis C treatment from Gilead
Sciences Inc. preferred status and cover a new competing treatment from
AbbVie Inc. only as an exception, CNBC reported on Monday.
Shares
in Gilead rose nearly 3 percent after the report that CVS would favor
the treatment, which can cost about $84,000, or $1,000 per pill. Its
cost has spurred a national debate about whether drug prices had soared
too high.
Two weeks ago, the nation's largest drug
benefits manager, north St. Louis County-based Express Scripts Holding
Co., said it would cover a competing, newly approved treatment from
AbbVie rather than Gilead, and Gilead shares fell sharply.
Labels: coverage, CVS, Gilead, insurance coverage