Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
An estimated 1-2% of the U.S. population is infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV); however, approximately 75% of those infected are unaware. Despite the availability of therapies to cure persons living with HCV, less than 10% have been successfully treated. Morbidity and mortality associated with chronic HCV infections is growing; liver cancer incidence and mortality are growing faster than any other common cancer largely due to viral hepatitis infections. Furthermore, HCV kills more people in the U.S. than all other nationally notifiable communicable diseases combined. With sustained efforts to implement universal HCV testing, testing based on exposures, conditions, and ongoing risk factors, linkage to care, and curative HCV treatment, the outcomes are preventable. Injection drug use is a primary risk factor for ongoing transmission of HBV and HCV; in recent years, there has been an increase in HCV diagnoses among young adults associated with the opioid epidemic. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) aims to improve surveillance for HBV and HCV in Michigan, facilitate statewide viral hepatitis elimination planning, increase access to HBV and HCV testing and prevention, prevent infections associated with injection drug use, reduce overdose deaths, and link people to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. MDHHS will enhance surveillance for HBV and HCV in Michigan by collaborating with laboratories to improve reporting of viral hepatitis results to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) electronically, including the reporting of negative HCV results. MDHHS will provide technical assistance and support to enhance viral hepatitis case investigation in jurisdictions with poor case follow-up. As Michigan’s HCV surveillance data continues to mature, MDHHS aims to better estimate the state’s HCV prevalence to better inform HCV elimination efforts and develop statewide and subpopulation-focused cure cascades. MDHHS will increase engagement with stakeholders through viral hepatitis elimination planning, expand HCV testing among laboratories and healthcare systems, and expand HCV treatment provider workforce capacity through webinar trainings and the establishment of a clinical consultation line. MDHHS aims to increase referral to wraparound services for people living with HCV, such as HCV treatment, SUD treatment, SSPs, and HAV and HBV vaccinations. MDHHS will prevent infections associated with injection drug use, reduce overdose deaths, and link people to SUD treatment by expanding access to SSPs across Michigan and funding partner organizations in high-impact settings within high-burden jurisdictions utilizing evidence-based data. Through these activities and partnerships, MDHHS aims to establish robust viral hepatitis surveillance, identify and link persons living with viral hepatitis to appropriate care and treatment, reduce viral-hepatitis related health disparities and decrease overdose deaths and secondary infections related to drug use. These efforts will ultimately lead to a decrease in HCV prevalence in the population, including morbidity and mortality associated with HCV infection, but also help to prevent new transmission among Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and other at-risk groups, moving us closer to viral hepatitis elimination in Michigan.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
