Great progress…but still far to go
In 2021, Ohio’s Medicaid program lifted most restrictions denying Hepatitis C treatment to people who use drugs. The Medicaid rule change made a big difference. The percentage of Medicaid enrollees receiving treatment after being diagnosed with Hep C increased from just 1.6% in 2018 to 10.5% in 2021.
That’s a big improvement, even though we have a long way to go. It shows how ending stigma improves the everyday health and well-being of the beautiful human beings who use drugs. Let’s hope the 2022 numbers, when available, show continued progress.