Puerto Rico Hepatitis C Treatment Access: A Breakthrough
In recent years, Puerto Rico hepatitis C treatment access has faced significant barriers, especially for patients under managed care. Thanks to new policy updates, these barriers have now been lifted—expanding access to life-saving therapies across the island.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis C is a major public health concern, and timely treatment can prevent serious complications such as liver disease, cirrhosis, and cancer.
Lifting Barriers for Managed Care Patients
Previously, many patients in Puerto Rico encountered restrictions that delayed or limited access to hepatitis C medications. Now, the government has removed these restrictions, ensuring that managed care patients can begin treatment earlier and more efficiently.
This policy change represents a critical milestone in improving health equity on the island and aligns with global efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat.
At Abarca Health, we continue to support initiatives that reduce barriers to care and create a better healthcare experience for patients and providers.
The Role of Awareness and Prevention
While treatment access is expanding, prevention and education remain essential. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that awareness campaigns and early detection programs are key to reducing transmission and ensuring effective management of the disease.
Through our Oasis Community Program, Abarca continues to promote initiatives that support vulnerable populations and raise awareness about chronic conditions like hepatitis C.
A Step Toward Better Health in Puerto Rico
Expanding Puerto Rico hepatitis C treatment access not only saves lives but also reduces the long-term costs of managing advanced liver disease. By removing systemic barriers, the healthcare system in Puerto Rico is taking a significant step toward better care, improved outcomes, and stronger communities.
For more resources on hepatitis C prevention and treatment, visit the CDC Hepatitis Resource Center.
Nearly 2.4 million Americans are living with the Hepatitis C Virus, it being the country’s deadliest infectious disease. Despite this reality, many state Medicaid programs have several discriminatory restrictions in place that keep Americans from accessing Hepatitis C treatment and preventing the country from ending the epidemic.
The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), a national coalition working to eliminate viral hepatitis, and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI), have recently acclaimed Puerto Rico for removing discriminatory restrictions on access to hepatitis C treatment that were limiting more than one million Puerto Ricans who are covered by the Medicaid program from accessing life-saving medications.
Read Puerto Rico’s full “Hepatitis C: State of Medicaid Access Report Card” here.
About Abarca
At Abarca, we believe in an Unstoppable Drive for a Better Way. Our commitment to making healthcare seamless and personalized for all drives us to innovate in AI, drug trend management, and predictive analytics. By transforming challenges into opportunities, we deliver PBM like no one else: better patient outcomes and a revolutionary healthcare experience. Join us in shaping the future at the intersection of technology and care!