Revolutionizing treatment outcomes in hepatitis C: managed care implications and considerations--the new and evolving standards of care

Although the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is declining, overall costs associated with HCV infection and the burden of advanced liver disease are projected to increase. The recent approval of all-oral, fixed-dose combination treatments for patients with HCV infection has resulted in unprecedented rates of treatment success, and in debate regarding treatment costs and appropriation. With all-oral therapies becoming the standard of care for HCV infection, high drug costs and improved clinical outcomes-now including the eradication of disease-must be weighed when selecting the most appropriate therapy. Patient "warehousing" has reached an all-time high as payers and providers strive to strike the fine balance between clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of currently available treatments, and this "wait and see" period may very well continue until an acceptable balance has been achieved. As such, it is imperative that managed care clinicians maintain an informed understanding of the disease burden and current climate of HCV infection in the United States.