The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare – HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Section will be utilizing the funds from CDC-RFA-PS21-2103, Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments to develop and implement strategies to achieve the outcomes of all components of the grant. The following are Idaho’s year one objectives for the grant.
Surveillance Objectives:
-By April 30, 2022, a first draft of the Idaho Hepatitis Cluster and Outbreak Detection and Response Plan will be submitted to BCDP and HSHS leadership for review.
-By April 30, 2021, develop a comprehensive plan for collecting all HCV RNA and HBV DNA results, including undetectable results.
-By April 30, 2021, a comprehensive plan to improve timelessness and completeness of demographic and risk factors for hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, and acute hepatitis C completed.
-By April 30, 2022, a comprehensive plan to improve timeliness and completeness of demographic and risk factors for hepatitis C completed.
-By April 30, 2022, the hepatitis C infection case investigation protocol will be reviewed and expanded, as needed, for perinatal hepatitis C infection.
Prevention Objectives:
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program and the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Technical Advisory Committee will complete a draft viral hepatitis elimination plan.
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program will conduct one (1) needs assessment to identify the current landscape of HCV RNA reflex testing among commercial labs and hospital-based laboratories.
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program will have subgrants in place with two (2) health systems to increase their HCV and/or HBV testing practices.
-By April 30, 2022, expand the number of Hepatitis C ECHO sessions from eight (8) to twelve (12) and add hepatitis B treatment to the curriculum.
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program will have at least one (1) subgrant in place with a high priority facility to increase their HCV and/or HBV testing practices.
-By April 30, 2022, the high priority facility identified in objective 2.2.2 will implement one (1) comprehensive plan for referral and linkage to care for hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B + clients.
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will provide funding to at least two (2) SSPs to address identified barriers to expand utilization among PWID.
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program and Syringe Exchange Program will increase the number of PWID referred to SUD treatment from baseline by 10%.
-By April 30, 2022, the Hepatitis Prevention Program will conduct one (1) feasibility assessment on increasing hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations among clients in high-impact settings.
Special Project Objectives:
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will develop an action plan to provide underserved PWID’s access to high-coverage SSP in at least one (1) county adversely impacted by drug use.
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will develop a statewide PWID service bundle that includes SUD treatment and recovery services.
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will develop a statewide PWID service bundle that includes HIV and viral hepatitis screening services.
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will develop a statewide PWID service bundle that includes treatment for infectious complications (viral hepatitis, HIV, bacterial or fungal infections) of SUD.
-By April 30, 2022, the Syringe Exchange Program will collaborate with the Hepatitis Prevention Program to conduct one (1) feasibility assessment on increasing hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations among PWID.