Alabama’s state Medicaid program and the US Department of Justice reached a settlement that will allow Alabama residents with substance use disorders to receive hepatitis C medication.
Under its previous policy, Alabama’s Medicaid program barred life-saving hepatitis C medication to residents who had consumed any alcohol or banned substances within six months of starting treatment.
Alabama’s sobriety policy was inherently discriminatory and in direct violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because sobriety restrictions are not medically required, the Justice Department said.
If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to a host of life-threatening health conditions, including liver failure and ...