Arkansas: State panel OKs more hepatitis-C drug buys

More teachers and state employees with hepatitis-C will be eligible for treatment with expensive drugs under changes adopted by a state board on Tuesday.

The changes approved by the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board broadened criteria for the treatment that the board set just over a month ago for coverage of the drugs, which can cost more than $86,000 for a 12-week course of treatment.

The changes will also allow most patients who meet the criteria to take a drug regimen that does not involve injections of interferon, which can cause flulike side effects.

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