Friday, October 31, 2025 10/31/2025

Cherokee Nation HCV Engagement and Linkage Program

Award Number: IDPID000001
ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND HIV/AIDS POLICY
OPDIV: DHHS/OS
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: OTHER
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/29/2026

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Cherokee Nation HCV Engagement and Linkage Program - Chronic infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of liver-related death in the western world. American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals have a higher incidence rate of HCV infection and mortality rate compared to other populations. Due to the health-concerns related to hepatitis infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. To support the objective of HCV elimination, Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) implemented its own program in 2015. CNHS developed several strategies to eradicate HCV infections. These strategies included a universal screening policy, training of healthcare personnel, laboratory-triggered screening, and electronic health record reminders for healthcare personnel to order screening tests. CNHS also expanded clinical capacity for treatment, developed public awareness campaigns, and initiated harm reduction programs. The CNHS HCV Elimination Program has achieved its original goal of curing 85% of individuals who initiated treatment. But it has not yet reached the targeted (≥85%) goals of linkage to care and treatment initiation with linking 83.7% of patients infected with HCV to care and less than 60% of patients initiating treatment. Improving linkage to care and treatment initiation is imperative in order to reach the overarching goal of HCV elimination in Cherokee Nation. Thus, there is a strong need for programs aimed at increasing HCV linkage to care and treatment initiation among individuals likely not to be linked to care. The CN HCV Engagement and Linkage Program (HELP) initiative has an overall goal of increasing access to HCV health care among AI/AN people within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. This program will collaborate with four community-based programs to screen AI/AN people receiving services that support individuals experiencing substance use disorders and housing insecurities. Community program staff will invite participants to be screened for HCV antibodies using the rapid testing kits. Participants will also be offered screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. For AI/AN participants who screen positive for HCV antibodies, a staff member will schedule the participant for a same day telehealth visit with a HCV healthcare provider to discuss test results and next steps. Staff will also collect lab samples in order to conduct HCV confirmation testing. Before the AI/AN participant leaves, staff will schedule a follow-up appointment (telehealth or in-person) for the individual to discuss results of the HCV confirmation test and to start treatment as needed; these follow-up appointments will be scheduled to coincide with days the individuals are likely to receive additional services from the community-based programs. Staff will be onsite at the programs to schedule same-day telehealth visits for individuals who may have missed their initial follow-up visit. CNHS HELP staff will provide the standard protocols of reaching out to patients by telephone and mail for appointment reminders and reschedules. The evaluation team has designed an evaluation plan to measure the impact of program activities in increasing the HCV linkage to care rate among AI/AN populations most at risk of contracting HCV. It also aims to identify facilitators and barriers to HCV linkage care among this population. The evaluation design features a mixed methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as key informant interviews, program reports, and surveys. Thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and regression analyses will be used to analyze information collected. Staff will disseminate evaluation findings through professional conferences and meetings, formal and informal evaluation reports, and scholarly journal publications. Program activities will be modified based on the results of the evaluation to improve effectiveness of linkage to HCV care.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $449,000 )
2025	2025	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	00	3	9/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$449,000
2025	2024	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	00	3	9/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $449,000

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $449,000 )
2024	2024	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	00	2	9/26/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$449,000
2024	2023	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	02	1	5/1/2024	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
2024	2023	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	00	2	9/26/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $449,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $450,000 )
2023	2023	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	00	1	9/18/2023	NEW	$440,000
2023	2023	CHEROKEE NATION	17675 S MUSKOGEE AVE	TAHLEQUAH	OK	74464	CHEROKEE	USA	Public Health Service Evaluation Funds	01	1	9/26/2023	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$10,000
														Subtotal = $450,000

Grand Total All Awards = $1,348,000

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Cherokee Nation HCV Engagement and Linkage Program

Award Number: IDPID000001

ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND HIV/AIDS POLICY

OPDIV: DHHS/OS

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: OTHER

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/29/2026

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