In DAA We Trust: Key Factors Essential to HCV Elimination

Excerpt

The World Health Organization has issued a call for global elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. To meet hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets in the USA, a consensus committee of the National Academies of Science and Medicine (NASEM) proposes, in addition to expanded HCV screening and prevention efforts, unrestricted access to HCV direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and aggressive treatment of estimated 260,000 unique patients annually [1]. Sustaining this level of treatment of HCV will require removal of multiple barriers at the system and at the provider and patient levels. The NASEM report gives specific recommendations for terminating system-level barriers regarding DAA access. Using new venues for HCV treatment, including primary care clinics and penitentiaries, will increase access to HCV prescribers. Removing health plan restrictions based on fibrosis level or active substance use disorder (SUD) will also promote DAA treatment. To fully achieve universal HCV treatment, impediments at the provider and patient levels must also be circumvented. …