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Review
. 2022 Aug;29(8):588-595.
doi: 10.1111/jvh.13685. Epub 2022 May 26.

Closing the hepatitis C treatment gap: United States strategies to improve retention in care

Austin T Jones  1 , Christopher Briones  2 , Torrence Tran  2 , Lisa Moreno-Walton  3 , Patricia J Kissinger  4
Affiliations
Review

Closing the hepatitis C treatment gap: United States strategies to improve retention in care

Austin T Jones et al. J Viral Hepat. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment landscape is shifting given the advent of direct-acting antivirals and a global call to action by the World Health Organization. Eliminating HCV is now an issue of healthcare delivery. Treatment is limited by the complexity of the HCV care continuum, expensive therapy and competing health burdens experienced by an underserved HCV population. The objective of this literature review was to assess strategies to improve retention in HCV care, with particular focus on those implemented in the United States. We identified barriers in HCV care retention and propose solutions to increase HCV treatment delivery. The following recommendations are herein described: improving the cohesion of health services through localized care and integrated case management, expanding the supply of non-specialist HCV treatment providers, leveraging patient navigators and care coordinators, improving adherence through directly observed therapy and reducing cost barriers through value-based payment and pharmaceutical subscription models.

Keywords: care continuum; healthcare delivery; hepatitis C; retention; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Hepatitis C care continuum.
A theoretical framework of hepatitis C care delivery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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