Health care, treatment patterns and cost of services for patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus in a large insured New England population.

The purpose of this study was to describe the cost of health care and the patterns of treatment of young patients (under 65 years of age) identified in health insurance claims as having received services for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We screened computerized claims from a US indemnity and managed care organization for out-patient and in-patient diagnoses related to HCV. Treatment patterns and costs of services were evaluated in the following sites of care: in-patient care, emergency room, hospital out-patient care, ambulatory office care and pharmaceuticals. There were 191 patients with chronic HCV-related claims in this study population (25 per 100 000), during 1995-97. Medical services and pharmaceutical costs in total (US$ 7.1 million) constituted a considerable cost in patients with chronic HCV-related claims during 1995-97. A subset of 98 patients were prescribed interferon-alpha with substantial variability in treatment regimens. Claims data provides a unique opportunity to estimate dollars paid for treatment patterns and health services in a 'real world' insured population and contributes to the understanding of health services for chronic HCV.