Studies from University of Washington Reveal New Findings on Hepatitis C Virus (Comparative Evaluation of State-Level Subscription-Based Payment Models for Hepatitis C Drugs): Liver Diseases and Conditions – Hepatitis C Virus

2026 JUL 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Liver Diseases and Conditions - Hepatitis C Virus have been published. According to news reporting originating from Seattle, Washington, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Subscription-based payment models (SBPMs) have been adopted to expand access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment within Medicaid programs. To evaluate the impact of SBPMs on HCV screening, RNA testing, and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) uptake among Medicaid Managed Care enrollees in Louisiana and Washington, and to identify factors associated with differential policy effects.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Washington, “Quasi-experimental study using the synthetic control method to compare outcomes in Louisiana and Washington-the only states implementing SBPMs in July 2019-with weighted combinations of 14 control states. Adults aged 18-64 years or older enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care between January 2018 and December 2022. Monthly HCV screening, RNA testing, DAA initiation, and refill rates identified from payer-complete closed claims. Louisiana SBPM was associated with significant increases in RNA testing (+35.2/100,000 persons/mo), DAA initiation (+7.8/1000 patients/mo), and DAA refills (+24.4/1000 patients/mo; all P=0.07). Gains were broad-based across subgroups and geographically consistent. Washington SBPM was associated with nonsignificant screening changes and significant declines in DAA initiation (-3.6/1000 patients/mo) and refills (-12.9/1000 patients/mo; P=0.07), with uniformly negative or null subgroup effects. SBPM yielded markedly different outcomes across states. Louisiana gains likely reflect convergence with recent Medicaid expansion and prior removal of DAA restrictions, generating a large treatment-eligible pool at implementation. Washington earlier expansion (2014) and fibrosis-restriction removal (2016) may have already addressed this demand.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “As the federal government invests $12.3 billion in HCV elimination with SBPM as a central mechanism, payment reform must be paired with comprehensive strategies-including provider engagement, screening infrastructure, and patient navigation-to achieve elimination goals.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Comparative Evaluation of State-Level Subscription-Based Payment Models for Hepatitis C Drugs. Medical Care, 2026. Medical Care can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins - www.lww.com; Medical Care - http://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/pages/default.aspx)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Jing Li, Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics (CHOICE) institute, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Additional authors for this research include Zizi Elsisi, H. Nina Kim and Anirban Basu.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1097/mlr.0000000000002359. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the journal Medical Care is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)