Hepatitis Happenings and Updates
NASTAD Updates
New! NASTAD Viral Hepatitis Testing: Health System Assessment Toolkit
The Hepatitis team has recently released the Viral Hepatitis Testing: Health System Assessment Toolkit to support health department staff in developing an assessment of high-volume health systems and their current hepatitis B and C screening practices. We would like to thank everyone involved in the creation of this resource for your time and effort. Please let us know if you have any questions about this resource, or if you have any TA needs related to the health system assessment.
NASTAD 2023 National HIV & Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting
October 11-13, 2023 | Washington, DC (only in-person)
NASTAD’s 2023 National HIV & Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting will allow ADAP coordinators, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part B coordinators, prevention managers, and hepatitis coordinators from states and CDC directly-funded jurisdictions to participate in various conversations about HIV and hepatitis policy, clinical developments, and innovative programming. The theme is “Reaffirming Meaningful Community Engagement,” and will include focused discussion on engaging communities that are crucial to ending intersecting syndemics – specifically gay/bisexual men and other men who have sex with men; people of transgender experience; people who are aging with HIV; and people who use drugs. Registration is $850 until September 30, after that date registration is $1,000. Please click here to register, and for any general questions about the meeting please contact Isaiah Webster.
Hepatitis-Focused Breakout Sessions
The Hepatitis team is leading five breakout sessions, that align with the meeting theme, “Reaffirming Meaningful Community Engagement,” that centers work more intently with a community focus on the following:
- Gay/bisexual men and other men who have sex with men
- People of transgender experience
- People who are aging with hepatitis, including updates on Baby Boomers
- People who use drugs
- Cluster detection and molecular surveillance implementation and policy considerations
We are soliciting ideas for presentations from you all on any work you are doing focused on these communities and cluster detection. If you are interested in presenting, please provide a brief description of your ideas for a presentation by August 18, 2023. Additionally, if there are community organizations, advocates, or other groups doing this work that you would like to hear from at this meeting, please let us know. We are excited to hear from you all and are looking forward to a great meeting!
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, or Isabel Lechuga (rlechuga@nastad.org), or Zakiya Grubbs (zgrubbs@nastad.org) and we will reach out directly. Additionally, we are considering convening a perinatal workgroup, so reach out to us if you are interested and have items you would like to discuss during the workgroup.
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: 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.
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: September 25, 2023
- Intended Audience: Newer hepatitis program staff (e.g. program coordinators, surveillance staff, etc.)
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: 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: TBD
- 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 related to these activities.
- Schedule: Quarterly calls from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
- Upcoming dates: TBD
- 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
The third year of the Virtual Learning Collaborative will begin next month for Syndemic September! For the September 20, 2023 session, titled “Cross-jurisdictional approaches to syndemic planning and implementation” we will have presentations from Boatemaa Ntiri-Reid, Senior Director, Syndemic Approaches at NASTAD, and Edwin Corbin-Gutierrez, Senior Program Advisor at NASTAD. All sessions will be held at 3 PM ET. More information about the Year 3 sessions will be forthcoming.
We are looking for speakers to share their viral hepatitis expertise during the Virtual Learning Collaborative Year 3. Please indicate on this form which dates and topics you are interested in presenting or moderating. Thank you!
In the meantime, please visit the VLC microsite for more information and to watch recordings from previous VLC sessions.
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.
Hot Topics: HepTAC TA Requests
We have received a few TA requests and we are requesting your assistance:
- Have any states removed parental consent for viral hepatitis testing? And if the statutory language around parental consent only mentions STDs, does your jurisdiction consider viral hepatitis an STD?
- 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
- A list of state health departments or local health departments that have Hep C treatment programs, preferably those doing mobile Hep C treatment?
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!
Partner Updates
Recently Released Hepatitis and Syndemic Plans
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2022-2026 West Virginia HIV and Hepatitis C Elimination Plan
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EndHepC-NM: Eliminating Hepatitis C Virus in New Mexico by 2030
Hawai’i: DOH report identifies opportunities to eliminate Hepatitis C among vulnerable communities
In a new report, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that syringe exchange programs provide important opportunities to eliminate infectious diseases like hepatitis C. Syringe exchanges not only prevent infections from spreading throughout the community, but also serve as essential health hubs for people who use drugs. This landmark report used qualitative research methods to seek guidance from people who use drugs on ways to increase the use of curative hepatitis C treatment. For more information and to read the full report, click here.
Relink Grant Program
The CDA Foundation will soon be releasing a request for proposals for the Relink program. The program will "provide grants to find diagnosed-but-untreated HCV and HBV infected individuals and help them get linked to care. The program is treatment agnostic. Diagnosed patients can go on any treatment recommended by their doctor." Eligible organizations for this grant opportunity included state health agencies (some states/territories are not eligible), tax exempt organizations serving the U.S. population, and healthcare institutions (hospitals, clinics, universities, non-profits working with patients. More information and a sign-up to receive the RFP when it is released can be found here.
Resources
NASTAD Viral Hepatitis Testing: Health System Assessment Toolkit
The Hepatitis team has recently released the Viral Hepatitis Testing: Health System Assessment Toolkit to support health department staff in developing an assessment of high-volume health systems and their current hepatitis B and C screening practices. We would like to thank everyone involved in the creation of this resource for your time and effort. Please let us know if you have any questions about this resource, or if you have any TA needs related to the health system assessment.
2021 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report
CDC recently released the annual Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report for 2021. This report includes reported case counts of hepatitis A, B and C, as well as estimates, mortality data, demographics and risk factors. Key takeaways include a 43% decrease in the rate of hepatitis A cases from 2020 to 2021 after increases between 2015-2019; a 14% decrease in the rate of acute hepatitis B cases from 2020 to 2021; and 7% increase in the rate of acute hepatitis C cases from 2020 to 2021. CDC also has highlighted several health equity takeaways, noting the disparities in morbidity and mortality among communities of color and the association between injection drug use and acute hepatitis C. Additionally, CDC cautions the use of this report due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related healthcare and public health disruptions.
2023 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report
Along with the annual surveillance report, CDC has also released the 2023 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report, which tracks progress toward 2025 targets from the Division of Viral Hepatitis 2025 Strategic Plan and the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for 2021–2025. The report notes that the US is on track for reducing new hepatitis B cases overall (estimated number of cases) and among people who inject drugs (reported rate), and reducing the rate of hepatitis C-related deaths. However, much more work is needed to be done to reduce hepatitis B-related deaths among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders (reported rate) and new hepatitis C cases (estimated number of cases), as these indicators moved away from the target in 2021 and saw increases.
Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing (HepNET) success story
Read about the HepNET’s impact and awareness to engage people with lived experience to provide technical assistance to strengthen partnerships between health department viral hepatitis programs and local harm reduction services. Click here to become a member and receive updates focused on identifying and addressing the unmet needs of people who inject drugs (PWID) to improve their access to viral hepatitis education, prevention, testing, linkage to care, and treatment.
Toolkit for New Viral Hepatitis Health Department Staff
This is an updated toolkit designed for new viral hepatitis health department staff to help them get started in their new roles and includes basic information, recommendations, key national partners, CDC funding opportunities, and where to go for help.
Upcoming Webinars/Meetings:
Upcoming Webinars
Connecting Pandemic Preparedness with Hepatitis Elimination to Strengthen Health Systems | August 29, 2023, 9:00 - 10:30 AM ET
Many countries are now well-positioned to expedite hepatitis elimination efforts while at the same time maintaining these systems to respond to new outbreaks. This webinar will launch a report released earlier this year “Building Resilient Health Systems: Sharing Investments in Hepatitis Elimination and Pandemic Preparedness.” The report provides an overview of how investments in achieving hepatitis elimination and preparing for the next pandemic are mutually reinforcing. Register here.
The Case for Double-Reflex Testing for All Individuals Living with Hepatitis B | September 14, 2023 10:00-11:00 am ET
Join Hepatitis Delta Connect, a program of the Hepatitis B Foundation to hear from Dr. Devin Razavi-Shearer of the Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, who will share insights from a recent publication advocating for hepatitis delta double-reflex testing for all individuals living with hepatitis B in low HBV- and high HBV/HDV-prevalence countries. Dr. Razavi-Shearer will also discuss some recent work that has been done to establish clearer estimates of hepatitis delta prevalence globally. Register here.
Upcoming Meetings
CSTE Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee Meetings | First Thursday, every other month at 3 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)
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.
NASTAD and The AIDS Institute will co-host a hepatitis pathway. Please join us for our two workshops:
“Black Girl Magic in the Hep Space,” scheduled for Friday, September 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm ET
“Black Advocacy & Policy: Leading the Fight to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis,” scheduled for Saturday, September 9, 9:00 - 11:00 am ET
Unlocking HCV Care in Key Settings
September 12-13, 2023 | 12:30 - 5:00 pm ET, Virtual
The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) and NASTAD will be hosting a free two-day virtual convening on September 12 and 13, 2023. The convening includes moderated sessions with presentations and discussions showcasing promising models and best practices for integrating hepatitis C testing and
Treatment in each of the following key settings: federally qualified health centers, state correctional facilities, syringe services programs, and programs providing medications for opioid use disorder. Registration can be found here.
Texas Health Equity Conference
September 21-22, 2023 | El Paso, TX
The Texas Health Equity Conference focuses on all aspects of health in Texas. This conference is aimed at the ultimate goal of creating better health outcomes for the special populations that make up the state of Texas. Registration can be found here.
HCV-Flavi 2023 29th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus, Flaviviruses, and Related Viruses
October 1-4, 2023 | Atlanta, GA
The International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus, Flaviviridae and Related Viruses is organized on an annual basis and rotates between Europe, North America and Asia/Australia. The symposium's history goes back to 1994 and played a crucial role in the characterization of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the discovery of the currently available effective medication for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. More information can be found here.
NASTAD 2023 National HIV & Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting
October 11-13, 2023 | Washington, DC (only in-person)
NASTAD’s 2023 National HIV & Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting will allow ADAP coordinators, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part B coordinators, prevention managers, and hepatitis coordinators from states and CDC directly-funded jurisdictions to participate in various conversations about HIV and hepatitis policy, clinical developments, and innovative programming. The theme is “Reaffirming Meaningful Community Engagement,” and will include focused discussion on engaging communities that are crucial to ending intersecting syndemics – specifically gay/bisexual men and other men who have sex with men; people of transgender experience; people who are aging with HIV; and people who use drugs. Registration is $850 until September 30, after that date registration is $1,000. Please click here to register, and for any general questions about the meeting please contact Isaiah Webster.
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
Harm Reduction Unit Manager - Career Opportunities: Unit Manager - Harm Reduction (3917) (successfactors.com)
Purpose: The Harm Reduction Unit at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides support in the advancement of statewide harm reduction efforts, including the expansion of syringe services programs (SSPs) throughout the state. The Harm Reduction Unit Manager will oversee the assessment and coordinated response to increasing SSP access in Michigan through local health departments and community-based organizations. The Harm Reduction Manager will provide SSPs with technical assistance, coordinating data collection and reporting, program evaluation, and managing budgets and contracts.
Publications
Progress and Unfinished Business: Hepatitis B in the United States, 1980-2019
CBS Mornings: The White House proposes new plan to eliminate hepatitis C (video)
Congress can eradicate hepatitis C and reduce the deficit at the same time
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