Hepatitis Happenings and Updates
NASTAD Updates
Upcoming NASTAD-led Work Group Calls
Please note the updated dates for 2023. If you are interested in joining a work group, please reach out to hepatitis@nastad.org, Isabel Lechuga (rlechuga@nastad.org), or Zakiya Grubbs (zgrubbs@nastad.org) and we will reach out directly.
Newer Hepatitis Staff Calls
These calls are being restructured in 2023 and are open to all new hepatitis health department staff who started their roles in the respective quarter of the call date. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet-and-greet others and familiarize themselves with NASTAD’s Newer Hepatitis Staff Toolkit. Reach out to Jasmine West (jwest@nastad.org) to be added to the invitation.
- Schedule: Quarterly calls from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: June 26 and September 25, 2023
- Intended Audience: Newer hepatitis program staff (e.g. program coordinators, surveillance staff, etc.)
Outbreak Detection Planning Work Group
Collaborative space for jurisdictions to discuss developing and implementing an outbreak response plan for Hepatitis A, B, and C. Jurisdictions can share best practices and outbreak response activities, including monitoring surveillance data to identify outbreaks.
- Schedule: Monthly calls every fourth Tuesday from 3:30 - 4:30 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: June (canceled in lieu of CSTE Annual Conference), July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, and November 28, 2023
- Intended audience: Health department prevention and surveillance staff working on developing and implementing an outbreak response plan as a part of PS 21-2103 Component 1 grant activities
Hepatitis Workgroup Calls
Bimonthly call to discuss recent hepatitis updates. Each meeting includes updates on hepatitis advocacy and policy, and drug user health. Participants are encouraged to send in Hot Topics for discussion to hepatitis@nastad.org prior to the meeting.
- Schedule: Bimonthly calls every third Tuesday from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: August 15, October 17, and December 19, 2023
- Intended Audience: Health department prevention and surveillance staff
Hepatitis C Linkage to Care Workgroup
This workgroup, led by Amelia Salmanson, Utah Viral Hepatitis Coordinator and HepTAC consultant, is a space to share best practices and learn from other jurisdictions about DIS, linkage to care, and patient navigation.
- Schedule: Quarterly calls from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: August 16, 2023
- Intended Audience: Health department prevention and/or surveillance staff working on HCV linkage to care
Hepatitis and PWID Services Work Group
Quarterly workgroup in supporting jurisdictions working on integrated viral hepatitis and PWID services, especially Component 3 grantees. The meetings are an open space to discuss progress on implementing PWID service bundles and other related Component 3 activities and to identify TA needs relating to these activities.
- Schedule: Quarterly calls from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: September 20, 2023
- Intended audience: Health department staff (including, but not limited to, Component 3 funded jurisdictions) SSP staff, substance use disorder treatment providers, state opioid treatment authorities, and other individuals interested in integrating viral hepatitis and PWID services.
VLC recordings/upcoming sessions
Upcoming VLC Session
On June 21, NASTAD will host the VLC session “Corrections and Viral Hepatitis: 340B Update” featuring presentations from Rob McGoey, Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Erin Fratto, consultant. All sessions will be held at 3 PM ET. In July, will host two VLC sessions: “Trauma-Informed Approaches for Viral Hepatitis” on July 5 with Mahelet Kebede of NASTAD, and “FY24 Hepatitis Policy Look-Ahead” on July 26 with Emalie Huriaux, Integrated Infectious Disease, Hepatitis C, and Drug User Health Programs Manager with the Washington State Department of Health and Julio Contreras of NASTAD.
Previous VLC session
In May, NASTAD hosted two VLC sessions on “Implementing negative/undetectable HBV DNA and HCV RNA lab reporting” with a presentation on May 3 by Shauna Onofrey, Senior Epidemiologist in the Office of Research and Evaluation at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and a member of NASTAD’s HepTAC Advisory Committee and moderated discussion led by Dan Church, Epidemiologist, Division of Epidemiology, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Chairperson of the CSTE Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee, followed by office hours on May 17. The recording of the May 3 presentation can be viewed here.
You can visit the VLC microsite for information on upcoming Year 2 sessions, and tune into recordings from previous VLC sessions.
Hot Topics: HEPTAC TA Requests
We have received a few TA requests and we are requesting your assistance:
- Examples of health systems assessments and what feedback is provided to respondents for HBV and/or HCV testing policies.
- Examples of viral hepatitis outbreak detection and response plans
If you have any information on the above TA requests, please email hepatitis@nastad.org. Thank you!
Note: Our team aims to send out a monthly newsletter to streamline hepatitis communications. If you know someone who would benefit from signing up or if you would like to be unsubscribed from the monthly newsletter, please email us at hepatitis@nastad.org We apologize if you emailed us and haven’t heard back, please email us again!
Additional Updates
Sex Worker Health & Harm Reduction TA Calls
The NASTAD Sex Worker Health and Harm Reduction Workgroup and NASTAD host a bi-monthly call for harm reduction programs and SSPs serving or interested in expanding services for people engaged in sex work. This call series is intended to serve as a space to facilitate connections and resource sharing, encourage peer support, offer TA and capacity building, and raise priorities of sex worker health in relation to harm reduction with national partners. The Sex Worker Health and Harm Reduction TA call is a component of the CDC-funded National Harm Reduction TA Center. At this time, calls are reserved for community-based organizations including drug user health programs and SSPs serving or interested in expanding services for people engaged in sex work. This call series is co-facilitated by regional consultants with support from the NASTAD Drug User Health team. Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of every other month, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET.
Please contact DrugUserHealthTA@NASTAD.org for more information.
Partner Updates
Hep B United Mini Grants Program: Grant Forecast - Expansion of Hepatitis B-related Public Health Services for Highly Impacted Communities in the United States
The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) is announcing the forecasting of the Hep B United (HBU) 2023 Mini Grant Program awards for expanding hepatitis B-related public health services in the United States opening on June 5, 2023. HBF will award up to 7 grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each. The purpose of this program is to enhance the capacity of HBU coalition partners to conduct hepatitis B education, prevention, testing and linkage to care in local communities. The emphasis of this grant is focused on addressing hepatitis B among African Immigrant, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and Persons Who Use Drugs. This mini grant forecast supports activities at the local coalition level to advance the hepatitis B priority areas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan. Apply by August 3, 2023. Contact Shreya Koirala (shreya.koirala@hepb.org) for more information.
Resources
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) conducted foundational research, inclusive of literature reviews, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews, to identify current and historical barriers to hepatitis C payment and service delivery. This document presents an overview of this initiative and preliminary findings that may inform final recommendations for financing models and/or policies that support integrated viral hepatitis service provision.
A recent report by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE) on how integrating infrastructure to support viral hepatitis elimination and pandemic preparedness positions countries to better respond to emerging health issues and viral hepatitis through increases in vaccination, viral testing and treatment capacity, and fast-paced innovation.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases have collaboratively developed evidence-based guidance regarding the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection since 2013. A panel of clinicians and investigators with extensive infectious diseases or hepatology expertise specific to HCV infection periodically review evidence from the field and update existing recommendations or introduce new recommendations as evidence warrants. This update focuses on changes to the guidance since the previous 2020 published update, including ongoing emphasis on recommended universal screening; management recommendations for incomplete treatment adherence; expanded eligibility for simplified chronic HCV infection treatment in adults with minimal monitoring; updated treatment and retreatment recommendations for children as young as 3 years old; management and treatment recommendations in the transplantation setting; and screening, treatment, and management recommendations for unique and key populations.
Wound Care & Medical Triage for People Who Use Drugs and the Programs That Serve Them
This comprehensive guide provides information and recommendations regarding general health, safer use practices, common viral, fungal, parasitic, and other injection-related infections, overdose and overamp, tapering, withdrawal, medications for opioid use disorder, and seeking medical care.
Upcoming Webinars/Meetings:
Upcoming Webinars
Syphilis and Drug User Health Webinar Series: State Health Department Innovations at the Intersection of Syphilis and Drug User Health | June 27, 2023, 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
The Syphilis and Drug User Health Webinar Series consists of five monthly sessions where those working on STIs – specifically syphilis – and those working in harm reduction and drug user health will be brought together to learn from each other, share promising practices, and highlight effective cross-sector partnerships. This webinar series is being hosted by NASTAD through the National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center, in partnership with AIDS United, NACCHO, NCSD, and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. The link to the June 27 webinar “State Health Department Innovations at the Intersection of Syphilis and Drug User Health,” can be found here and more information about the series, including recordings, can be found here.
Archived Webinars
Hepatitis C Elimination at the Intersections of People Who Inject Drugs in Rural Settings | National Institute on Drug Abuse
Speakers discussed collaborative research on hepatitis C networks among persons who inject drugs, using peers and technology to increase uptake of HCV screening and treatment, and hepatitis C elimination among persons injecting drugs in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recording is available here.
Upcoming Meetings
Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Implementation Regional Technical Assistance (TA) Convening – South
July 20-21, 2023 | Birmingham, AL
NASTAD is pleased to open registration for the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Implementation Regional Technical Assistance (TA) Convening – South. Southern EHE Phase 1 Jurisdictions funded through CDC PS20-2010 Component A and their EHE community leaders are invited to attend in-person or virtually. Topics will center around each of the four EHE pillars (Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, Respond) with a focus on strengthening syndemic collaborations, PrEP access and uptake, advancing status-neutral approaches, community engagement, and workforce development. As a technical assistance meeting, health departments and community leaders will have the opportunity to learn from peers and national TA providers, as well as strengthen EHE plans and activities.
This convening will be held over two days, July 20-21, 2023, in Birmingham, Alabama at the DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park. NASTAD encourages all participants to attend in person; however, virtual attendance will be available. In order to attend, either in-person or virtually, please register here.
CSTE Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee Meetings | First Thursday, every other month at 3:00 PM ET
The Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee comprises epidemiologists, program coordinators, and others interested in viral hepatitis surveillance and epidemiology. The purpose of this subcommittee is to inform and improve practices related to viral hepatitis surveillance and data analysis in local, state, tribal, and territorial settings, as well as build epidemiologic capacity and support partnerships related to viral hepatitis surveillance. The subcommittee is also charged with reviewing and developing national position statements on viral hepatitis-related topics, including standardized surveillance case definitions.
The Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee holds regular conference calls and webinars to discuss current issues and overarching topics related to viral hepatitis surveillance, such as best practices and lessons learned across jurisdictions, policy around viral hepatitis surveillance, and analyzing viral hepatitis data. For more information, click here.
Conferences/Events (National & Local)
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2023 Annual Conference
June 25-29, 2023 | Salt Lake City, Utah
The CSTE Annual Conference connects more than 2,500 public health epidemiologists from across the country and will include workshops, plenary sessions with leaders in the field of public health, oral breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, and poster presentations. Conference attendees meet and share their expertise in surveillance and epidemiology as well as best practices in a broad range of areas including informatics, infectious diseases, substance use, immunizations, environmental health, occupational health, chronic disease, injury control, and maternal and child health. The Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee will be hosting a one-day workshop on Sunday, June 25, 2023 (Isabel and Zakiya will be presenting during the workshop). Registration is now open, and more conference information can be found here.
5th Annual California Street Medicine Symposium
August 17-18, 2023 | Los Angeles, CA
The California Street Medicine Symposium still stands as one of only two street medicine focused conferences available in the US making this a unique opportunity to connect, learn and innovate together. This event provides an opportunity for street medicine teams, people with lived expertise in homelessness, community members, health plans, community organizations, government representatives and academic medicine to come together in a common space to discuss the current state of street medicine in California, street medicine best practices, and where street medicine should go next. This two-day conference will be highlighted by two internationally recognized experts in homelessness as our keynote speakers, innovative lectures from speakers throughout the state of California, and an interactive problem-solving workshops to promote new ideas and new partnerships. More information can be found here.
United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA)
September 6-9, 2023 | Washington DC
This year’s theme is “A Love Letter to Black Women,” to celebrate and honor Black women (cis and trans). We will highlight Black women across our movements, from activists to women living with HIV, national advocates, community voices, federal leaders, health department staff, healthcare workers, researchers, and women-focused organizations. The Opening Plenary will tell their stories and acknowledge their contributions. Their experiences will be highlighted in workshops, institutes, posters, and special events. Take a look at the agenda and click here to register.
The 11th International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) 2023
October 17-20, 2023 | Geneva, Switzerland
This annual conference welcomes hundreds of practitioners, researchers, policymakers, advocates, community members and people who use drugs every year. INHSU covers the latest advances on hepatitis C epidemiology, management and treatment of viral hepatitis among people who use drugs. Through the dissemination of scientific knowledge, our aim is to contribute to the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. More information can be found here.
Jobs and Fellowships
State of North Carolina: Linkage to Care (HIV/HCV Special Projects)
The Division of Public Health is accepting applications for a Public Health Linkage to Care Specialist/Disease Intervention Specialist II. A critical position in the Viral Hepatitis Program (within the Communicable Disease Branch), work focuses heavily on special populations who are at elevated risk for viral hepatitis, including incarcerated individuals, people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness. Linkage to Care Specialists are responsible for utilizing proven social, behavioral, educational, and sociological tools to identify and overcome barriers to linkage and retention in medical care. For more information, click here.
Publications
Keeping up with changes in HCV guidance: An update on the latest recommendations
5 keys to dramatically increasing hepatitis C screening
US backs study of safe injection sites, overdose prevention
Our team aims to send out a monthly newsletter to streamline hepatitis communications. If you know someone who would benefit from signing up or if you would like to be unsubscribed from the monthly newsletter, please email us at hepatitis@nastad.org