BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics, Policy & Law

The Louisiana purchase

How Louisiana is leading the way in innovative drug payment models

August 24, 2018 9:24 PM UTC

Faced with a choice between treating its HCV population or funding other public services like education, Louisiana’s Department of Health Secretary Rebekah Gee was motivated to find a way to do both. Working with drug companies, Gee crafted a novel payment model that could keep spending on HCV drugs within the state’s budget while opening up an inaccessible market.

BioCentury spoke with Gee about the state’s decision to pursue a subscription-based model for HCV drugs, and how the approach could serve as a template for other states and entities searching for ways to pay for new therapies that address large public health needs...