Newsletters

Hepatitis Happenings and Updates

Zakiya Grubbs, M.P.H,

Rita Isabel Lechuga, M.D., M.P.H,

Boatemaa Ntiri-Reid, J.D., M.P.H

Jul 8, 2024

NASTAD Updates

Upcoming NASTAD-led Work Group Calls and Webinars

July 2024 Workgroup Calls (Additional information about the workgroups can be found after the break)

Outbreak Detection Planning Workgroup
- July 23, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET | Registration

July 2024 Webinars

[Ad hoc] PS21-2103 Outbreak Activity WG facilitated by NASTAD
- July 15, 2024 at 4 pm ET | Zoom Link
NASTAD-led peer workgroup call on dried blood spot testing (part II) and envisioning the implementation of the HCV RNA point-of-care test
- July 18, 2024 at 3 pm ET | Zoom Link
NASTAD-led peer-to-peer discussion on the use of alternative diagnoses vs. acute cases for HCV
- July 22, 2024 at 3 pm ET | Zoom Link
NASTAD-led webinar on Kentucky's leveraging of the 340B Drug Pricing Program for HCV with their Dept of Corrections
- July 29, 2024 at 4 pm ET | Zoom Link

NASTAD Membership Directory Update

We are updating our membership directory to include both viral hepatitis prevention and surveillance points of contact. Please provide the contact information for your jurisdiction here, and review the current directory here. Thank you!

Ice Cream Shop Recommendations Map

Thanks all who provided recommendations for your favorite ice cream shops and flavors during our last workgroup call. You can find the map of ice cream shops here. Please let us know your favorite shops and flavors to add to the list. Enjoy!

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. For meeting link, please email Zakiya Grubbs (zgrubbs@nastad.org) or Isabel Lechuga (rlechuga@nastad.org).

Schedule: Bimonthly calls every first Tuesday from 3:30 - 4:30 PM ET
Upcoming dates: August 6, October 1, 2024
Intended Audience: Closed to 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 disease intervention specialists (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.
Registration: https://nastad.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtfuCgpjMpGtIaEJBAq0HeBp0Rsf6I-KF-

Perinatal Surveillance and Case Management Workgroup

For jurisdictions looking to start or have previously established a perinatal hepatitis surveillance and case management program, this space is for sharing challenges and breakthroughs. Discussion topics include identifying cases within existing surveillance, developing a registry, infant follow-up testing and case management, and provider outreach.

Schedule: Bimonthly, then quarterly calls from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Upcoming dates: TBD
Intended Audience: Health department prevention and/or surveillance staff working on perinatal hepatitis B and C surveillance and case management.
Registration: https://nastad.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArd-6tqDgrH9F9M64LUFClne5d2Ldbmiec

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: July 23, 2024
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.
Registration: https://nastad.zoom.us/j/84875059553

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 hepatitis@nastad.org to be added to the invitation.

Schedule: Quarterly calls from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Upcoming dates: TBD
Intended Audience: Newer hepatitis program staff (e.g. program coordinators, surveillance staff, etc.)

VLC Recordings/Upcoming Sessions

The next VLC session will be held on July 10, titled “Viral hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and linkage to care services at state and local corrections,” with presentations by Katie Burk and Shelley Facente, Facente Consulting, and HepTAC Consultants, and a moderated discussion led by DaNae Schoenborn, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

On June 26, we held a VLC session on “Conducting expanded perinatal hepatitis C surveillance through the SET-NET program with presentations by April Rideout, Arizona Department of Health Services, and Rachael Bieltz, Allegheny County Health Department, and a moderated discussion led by Heather Wingate, Tennessee Department of Health and HepTAC consultant. Recordings can be found here.

Please visit the VLC microsite for more information and to watch recordings from previous VLC sessions.

Hepatitis Policy Updates

NASTAD Submits Comments on Proposed Viral Hepatitis Quality Measures

On June 7, NASTAD submitted comment to the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) in support of proposed viral hepatitis quality measures for implementation at the state and territory level. The comment highlighted the positive impact of implementing quality measures for hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment initiation in the Medicaid Adult Core Set. The quality measures would incentivize greater screening and linkage to care and facilitate the building of relationships across Medicaid and other public health programs.

HHS Accepting Nominations for CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently accepting nominations for the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment (CHAC) 2025 nomination cycle. CHAC consists of 18 experts in fields associated with public health; epidemiology; laboratory practice; immunology; infectious diseases; substance use disorder; behavioral science; health education; healthcare delivery; state health programs; clinical care; preventive health; medical education; health services and clinical research; health equity; and healthcare financing, who are selected by the Secretary of HHS. Nominations for membership on CHAC must be received no later than October 1, 2024. Please contact the NASTAD Policy & Legislative Affairs team if you would like to nominate yourself or one of your colleagues.

White House Issues Proclamation on National Hepatitis Testing Day

On May 19, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation in observance of National Hepatitis Testing Day, held annually on May 19. The proclamation encourages public health practitioners and providers to help spread the word on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and test more people, especially among disproportionately impacted communities. Additionally, the proclamation highlights President Biden’s proposed HCV viral elimination plan and encourages broader HBV vaccination.

HHS OIDP Announces Rebrand of PACE Program as OIDP Engagement Teams

On May 8, HHS OIDP announced that it renamed the Prevention through Active Community Engagement (PACE) program to OIDP Engagement Teams to better represent the program’s work addressing syndemics, health equity, and engaging priority jurisdictions of the EHE initiative. The OIDP Engagement Teams were launched in 2019 to enhance HIV service delivery in regions most affected by HIV and bridge the community/federal communication gap between federal partners, states, counties, community-based organizations, and other local entities. The teams empower partners through technical assistance, resources, and training to ensure effective outreach and expansion of testing, prevention, and treatment services for populations impacted by the public health syndemic of HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, COVID, mpox, substance use and mental health disorders.

Additional Updates

Hepatitis National Network for Education and Testing (HepNET)

Formed through a partnership between NASTAD, NVHR and NACCHO, the Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing (HepNET) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing racial justice and health equity in viral hepatitis care, with a focus on people who use drugs. Click here to become a member completely free! Members get access to HepNET's resource warehouse, webinars and events, invitations, technical assistance opportunities, and the chance to participate in HepNET's learning communities.

HepTAC Consultant Spotlight

Did you know that the Hepatitis team works closely with many consultants to support TA requests and resource development? HepTAC Consultants provide valuable expertise in hepatitis prevention and surveillance. Each month we will spotlight a different consultant so that you can get to know them better. Information on all consultants can be found here and if you would like to request TA, please email hepatitis@nastad.org.

Liisa Randall, HepTAC Consultant

Dr. Liisa Randall has over 30 years of experience in public health practice in infectious disease prevention and control. As a consultant to NASTAD, Dr. Randall provides training and technical assistance on to HIV, viral hepatitis, and STI testing strategies, program development and sustainability, and evaluation and quality improvement. Dr. Randall holds a doctorate in medical anthropology.

Hot Topics: HepTAC TA Requests

We have received a few TA requests recently and we are requesting your assistance:

We are interested in learning what languages are hepatitis educational materials available in your jurisidiction, and if you all can share these materials to add to the resource bank. Also, we would like to know what languages you need support in creating materials.
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!

Partner Updates

FDA Approval of First HCV RNA Point of Care Test

On Friday, June 27, the FDA approved the Cepheid for the Xpert HCV test and GeneXpert Xpress System as the first HCV RNA point-of-care test in the US. This system can be used in CLIA-waived settings to detect HCV RNA from fingerstick blood within one hour. The press release can be found here and more information on the GeneXpert platform and test can be found here.

Congressional Budget Office Reports on Proposed White House Viral Hepatitis C Elimination Plan

On Friday, June 14, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released two reports on the White House Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative:

In the first report, the CBO describes the finding of it research on increasing treatment to 10% or 100% of Medicaid enrollees. Savings from adverted complications and other health care cost would be more than the cost of testing and treatment over 10 years, however, the CBO would like to conduct research to see if there is any cost saving after 10 years. Additionally, the CBO is looking for additional research on the following topics that would demonstration cost savings of a national program:

The effectiveness of outreach and other efforts in increasing testing, treatment initiation, and adherence among targeted populations (which would also depend on the specific populations included in the program);
The costs of treating hepatitis C with DAAs; and
The costs of treating complications from hepatitis C if the disease is untreated.

Please email Chapin.White@cbo.gov with comments on how you and your partners have scaled HCV outreach, and linkage and retention in care and how a national HCV elimination program would support these efforts.

Resources

July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, commemorating the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the vaccine. Around the world, July 28 is a day to increase awareness and education, take action towards hepatitis elimination, and support people living with viral hepatitis. Here are a few resources to spread awareness and education in your communities:

Upcoming Webinars, Meetings, & Events

Upcoming Webinars

Viral Hepatitis Diagnostics Working Group Meeting
- July 16
- Discussion with the FDA's Division of Microbiology Devices. Please email adrienne@nvhr.org for additional information.
NVHR Grassroots Advocacy Call
- July 18th at 3 pm ET | Registration
- During the NVHR grassroots advocacy call, Cepheid will present on the GeneXpert platform for HCV.
Hepatitis C in the Context of Drug Use; State-of-the-Art Diagnostic and Pathogenic Efforts
- July 22, 2024 at 12 pm ET | Registration
Webinar: World Hepatitis Day – 2024: AASLD - INASL Joint Webinar on Viral Hepatitis
- July 31, 2024 at 10 am ET | Registration

Archived Webinars 

Novel approaches to bringing viral hepatitis care to people with substance use disorder (YouTube)
The Role of Community Health Centers in Eliminating Hepatitis C in the United States (Zoom)
Updates on Hepatitis B & C for Patients (YouTube)
Preventing hepatitis B infection in US Adults (Link)

Recurring Meetings  

CSTE Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee Meetings | First Thursday, every other month at 3 PM ET

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)

Africanizing the Research Paradigm Summit

July 30-31, 2024 | Boston, MA | Registration

Our 2024 AIHRC Africanizing Research Paradigm Summit will bring together community partners, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. We aim to advance patient-centered research that prioritizes the voices and traditions of African immigrants, ultimately enhancing their health and well-being.

US Conference on HIV/AIDS
September 12-15, 2024 | New Orleans, LA | Registration

NASTAD and the AIDS Institute are hosting a Hepatitis Pathway again this year at USCHA. The theme for this year’s conference is “So Goes the South, So Goes the Epidemic,” highlighting the increased burden of HIV in the South. More information can be found here.

United States Conference on African Immigrant Health 2024

September 27-29, 2024 | Baltimore, MD | Registration

The United States Coalition for African Immigrant Health (USCAIH) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity are pleased to invite representatives of community-based organizations, federal, local, and state agencies, health professionals and providers, researchers, and students to participate in a conference. The conference will focus on a variety of health issues affecting African immigrants in the United States and other regions and aims to share effective, evidence-based strategies and practices.

The 12th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU 2024)

October 8-11, 2024 | Athens, Greece | Registration

INHSU 2024 will bring together hundreds of global attendees from sectors including harm reduction, infectious diseases, civil society, and drug policy. This event promises to foster collaborative dialogue and catalyse positive change for marginalized communities worldwide.

NASTAD National HIV and Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting

October 16-18, 2024 | Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC | Registration

NASTAD’s 2024 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, diagnostic and clinical developments, and innovative programming. The theme is “Call to Action: Investing in BIPOC Leadership,” and the meeting will include focused discussion on fostering the health department leadership that is crucial to ending intersecting syndemics across every region of the United States. To ensure the meeting outcomes are practical, each plenary will conclude with specific action steps that participants can implement in their health department jurisdiction after the gathering. During the registration process, all participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback directly to NASTAD’s staff regarding the development of the meeting’s breakout sessions.

2024 Northeast Regional Epidemiology Conference

November 7-8, 2024 | Atlantic City, NJ

Northeast Regional Epidemiology Conference (NEEPI), which is a regional public health conference focusing on epidemiology initiatives, responses, and partnerships. The nine participating states are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. There will be viral hepatitis track and the request for abstracts for oral and poster presentations will be opening in the coming months.

The Liver Meeting

Save the Date: November 15-19, 2024 | San Diego, CA | Website

Jobs, Fellowships, and Funding Opportunities

MAI Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Pilot Program

The purpose of this program is to provide substance use prevention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and HIV and viral hepatitis prevention and treatment services for racial and ethnic minority individuals vulnerable to a SUD and/or mental health condition, HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases (e.g., sexually transmitted infections). Recipients will be expected to take a syndemic approach to SUD, HIV, and viral hepatitis by providing SUD prevention and treatment to racial and ethnic minority individuals at risk for or living with HIV, hepatitis C, and/or STIs. With this program, SAMHSA aims to pilot this integrated approach, which combines comprehensive prevention and treatment services, while increasing engagement in care for people at increased risk for SUD, HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. Priority (10 additional points) will be given to applicants implementing services in the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) priority jurisdictions.

SAMHSA anticipates awarding up to eight programs of up to $700,000 per year for up to five years. At least one award will be made to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, or tribal organizations pending sufficient application volume. Applications are due Friday, July 12, 2024. More information here.