Federal government launches $9.7B hepatitis C cure program, free treatment for millions
H.R. 9682 — Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 · Filed by Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 14, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill establishes a federal program to eliminate hepatitis C in the United States by creating a subscription-model drug procurement system, funding state and local screening/treatment initiatives, and removing cost-sharing barriers for Medicare beneficiaries. The federal government will negotiate bulk purchases of hepatitis C treatments with drug manufacturers and distribute them free to Medicaid/CHIP enrollees, uninsured individuals, incarcerated people, and those in Indian health programs; Medicare Part D beneficiaries will pay nothing for hepatitis C drugs from 2028–2032.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a federal disease-elimination initiative combining bulk drug procurement, state/local grants, and Medicare cost-sharing removal. It is primarily a public health measure, not a market intervention or subsidy to private entities.
What the text implies
- The subscription model excludes hepatitis C treatments from Medicaid best-price and average manufacturer price calculations (Section 4(6)), potentially insulating negotiated prices from downward pressure in other federal programs and limiting transparency of actual drug costs paid.
- The bill prohibits use of the 340B drug discount program for hepatitis C treatments obtained through the subscription program (Section 4(1)(B)), which may reduce savings available to safety-net providers and hospitals serving low-income populations.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
pharmaceutical manufacturers (direct acting antivirals); retail pharmacies (dispensing fees); diagnostic test vendors