Our Cherry Street Plaza lobby is now open for walk-in service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Learn about other customer support options.
Eliminating hepatitis C
The Health Care Authority (HCA) is partnering with the Department of Health (DOH) and AbbVie US LLC, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, in an effort to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) in Washington State by 2030.
AbbVie was awarded the state contract because they provided the best overall portfolio and offer a product that treats about 97 percent of all patients with HCV.
On this page
Learn more about eliminating hepatitis C in Washington.
Strategy
HCA, DOH and AbbVie are coordinating efforts to find individuals who are not yet treated; educate the health care workforce about screening and providing curative HCV treatment; and address barriers to care such as stigma, access to HCV providers, and the lack of urgency to treat among patients and providers.
In order to achieve HCV elimination in Washington State, DOH convened partners and stakeholders to develop the Hep C Free Washington plan. These include:
- People affected by HCV
- Local health jurisdictions
- Tribal Nations
- Medical providers
- Others with an interest in HCV elimination
What we need from providers
Action! This is a huge opportunity to rid our state of the most common blood borne disease in the United States – and now it is possible.
Effective immediately, we would like all providers licensed to treat HCV to screen and treat the target population. In order to support our provider community in this monumental effort, Apple Health (Medicaid) has made important policy changes:
- The antiviral Mavyret™ will no longer require prior authorization (PA). Other direct-acting antivirals will require review and will be approved only when Mavyret™ is not clinically appropriate.
- Anyone licensed to prescribe direct acting antiviral medications is allowed to screen and treat Apple Health members to support this effort.
Webinars and virtual learnings/updates
HCA has launched a webinar series dedicated to highlighting efforts to eliminate HCV in Washington State.
Time and date (Pacific) | Registration | Agenda |
---|---|---|
April 16, 2021 | Hepatitis C update 2021 Hosted by the University of Washington Cost: $330 |
Join the UW live from 8 a.m. to noon for live webinar sessions. Then, view the remaining sessions at your own pace. At the end of the conference, fill out an evaluation and print your own certificate. You will have access to all lecture videos for six months. |
November 6, 2020 Listen at your convenience |
HCA webinar series recording: Myth busting: treating hepatitis C in primary care |
Presenter: John Scott, MD, MSc
|
October 6, 2020 Listen at your convenience |
HCA webinar series recording: |
|
Elimination awareness bus
HCA and AbbVie deployed an HCV elimination awareness bus to areas of Washington State with high-risk HCV populations. This strategy is part of a national program to educate the population about the importance of screening and linkage to care. When a person visits the bus, they are able to get hep C antibody testing to determine if they may have the virus.
2022 bus stops
Date |
Event |
Event details |
October 8 | Family Medical Health Fair |
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: 1120 West Rose Street Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
October 7 | Project Homeless Connect |
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Location: The Church Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1102 South Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98465 |
August 31 | Gather Church Event | TBD |
August 30 | Gather Church Event | TBD |
March 2 |
Spokane Regional Health District Needle Exchange |
Time: 2 - 5 p.m. Location: Spokane Regional Health District |
March 1 |
Spokane Homeless Connect |
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Spokane Convention Center |
January 27 |
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Spokane Convention Center |
2021 bus stops
Date |
Event |
Event details |
December 18 |
Blessings Under the Bridge winter event - Spokane, WA |
Testing: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Downtown Spokane under the bridge off 4th and McClellan |
September 17 |
Project Homeless Connect - Tacoma, WA |
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location: Peoples Park 900 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA |
September 15 |
Gather Church Event - Centralia, WA |
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Rotary Riverside Park Lowe Street North of Harrison, Centralia, WA |
September 6 |
Hands Across the Bridge - Vancouver, WA |
Time: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Location: Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St. Vancouver, WA |
August 14 |
Summer Blessings - Spokane, WA |
Time: testing from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Downtown Spokane under the bridge off 4th and McClellan |
August 11 |
Blessings Under the Bridge - Spokane, WA |
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Downtown Spokane under the bridge off 4th and McClellan |
2020 bus stops
HCA put a hold on public gatherings as part of our response to Covid-19. However, the bus made stops in early 2020 at:
- 9th Annual Spokane Homeless Connect - Spokane, WA
- Legislative Day - Olympia, WA
- 2020 Seattle/King County Clinic - Seattle, WA
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common blood borne disease in the United States. Between 75 and 85 percent of people infected with HCV develop chronic HCV.
Chronic HCV is a lifelong virus that can cause severe scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver, liver cancer, the need for a liver transplant, and even death. The death toll from HCV continues to rise, tied to the opioid epidemic and the rise in drug injection.
Currently, about 60,000 Washingtonians are living with HCV. Approximately 30,000 are covered by state-purchased health care, including:
- Washington Apple Health
- The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program
- The Department of Corrections (DOC)
- The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
- The Department of Social & Health Services (State hospitals)
HCV is curable and elimination is possible. Elimination is a state where HCV is no longer a public health threat, and where those few who become infected quickly learn their status and receive curative treatment, preventing the forward spread of the virus.
Resources
- AASLD-IDSA Simplified HCV Guidelines (without Cirrhosis)
- AASLD-IDSA Simplified HCV Guidelines (with Compensated Cirrhosis)
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- HCV elimination brief
- Health care professionals
- Op-ed: A public-private partnership to eliminate hepatitis C in Washington is a model for other states
- Pharmacy notice - Apple Health billing
- Provider cheat sheet
Contact
Email: eliminatehcv@hca.wa.gov