RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Hepatitis C Treatment Program Based in a Safety-Net Hospital Patient-Centered Medical Home
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 258
OP 261
DO 10.1370/afm.2069
VO 15
IS 3
A1 Karen E. Lasser
A1 Alexandra Heinz
A1 Leandra Battisti
A1 Alexandria Akoumianakis
A1 Ve Truong
A1 Judith Tsui
A1 Glorimar Ruiz
A1 Jeffrey H. Samet
YR 2017
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/15/3/258.abstract
AB Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem. Urban safety-net hospitals are a prime location for HCV treatment delivery. Showing that physicians in primary care settings can deliver HCV infection care is important to expand treatment; models doing so in the era of newer oral HCV medications are needed. This article describes an innovative and successful HCV primary care treatment program in a patient-centered medical home based at an urban, safety-net hospital. The program is public health oriented in that a central team member is a public health social worker who performs population management and addresses underlying social determinants of health to facilitate engagement in HCV treatment. Other team members include general internists trained to treat HCV infections, a pharmacist, and a pharmacy technician. The program is funded with revenue generated by the 340b drug discount program, which allows providers to generate revenue when patients fill prescriptions at pharmacies in safety-net settings, as insurance reimbursements for medications exceed the cost at which safety-net providers purchase medications. During the course of 1 year, the program received 302 referrals. Of these approximately 23% have received treatment.