Medi-Cal Offers Coverage for New HIV Treatment

California's Medi-Cal program will begin covering the newly approved drug HIV/AIDS Viread, officials said Tuesday. The drug is also now available to those enrolled in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides medication for individuals earning less than $50,000 annually. The state began coverage 17 days after the Food and Drug Administration approved Viread for use by patients who have not responded well to other drugs, or who have developed resistance to other therapy. The drug, also known by its generic name, tenofovir, has been added to Medi-Cal's list of drugs that health care providers can prescribe without prior approval. With the addition of Viread, all 146 FDA-approved HIV drugs are reimbursable by Medi-Cal. The state spent $127 million on HIV medication during the past year to treat an estimated 112,000 residents.

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