Improving Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Uninsured Patients in Southeast Georgia

Bonzo K Reddick; MariAnna O'Ree

doi:10.20429/jgpha.2020.080103

Improving Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Uninsured Patients in Southeast Georgia

Bonzo K Reddick
, MariAnna O'Ree

Mercer University School of Medicine
Memorial Health University Medical Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: In this brief report, we discuss enhancing access to hepatitis C treatment for uninsured patients in Southeast Georgia.

Methods: Through our screening program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in a local safety net emergency department, the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Initiative studied the rates of linkage to care for newly diagnosed patients with HCV and sought ways to improve linkage to care for those who did not have health insurance.

Results: Our multidisciplinary team partnered with a local federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a wholesale laboratory service to offer affordable care options, thus increasing the percent of uninsured patients who were linked to care for the treatment of their chronic HCV infections.

Conclusions: The creative use of non-invasive laboratory testing from non-traditional sources, and collaboration with pre-existing community partners is one way to make the care of chronic HCV infection attainable by uninsured and underinsured patients.

Original language	American English
Journal	Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080103
State	Published - Jan 1 2020
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Hepatitis C
Uninsured
Medicaid
CARE Initiative

Disciplines

Infectious Disease
Public Health
Virus Diseases

Access to Document

10.20429/jgpha.2020.080103License: Unspecified

Affordable Care for Uninsured Patients with Chronic Hepatitis CFinal published version, 127 KBLicense: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Improving Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Uninsured Patients in Southeast Georgia",

abstract = " Background: In this brief report, we discuss enhancing access to hepatitis C treatment for uninsured patients in Southeast Georgia. Methods: Through our screening program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in a local safety net emergency department, the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Initiative studied the rates of linkage to care for newly diagnosed patients with HCV and sought ways to improve linkage to care for those who did not have health insurance. Results: Our multidisciplinary team partnered with a local federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a wholesale laboratory service to offer affordable care options, thus increasing the percent of uninsured patients who were linked to care for the treatment of their chronic HCV infections. Conclusions: The creative use of non-invasive laboratory testing from non-traditional sources, and collaboration with pre-existing community partners is one way to make the care of chronic HCV infection attainable by uninsured and underinsured patients.",

keywords = "Hepatitis C, Uninsured, Medicaid, CARE Initiative",

author = "Reddick, \{Bonzo K\} and MariAnna O'Ree",

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doi = "10.20429/jgpha.2020.080103",

language = "American English",

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T1 - Improving Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Uninsured Patients in Southeast Georgia

AU - Reddick, Bonzo K

AU - O'Ree, MariAnna

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - Background: In this brief report, we discuss enhancing access to hepatitis C treatment for uninsured patients in Southeast Georgia. Methods: Through our screening program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in a local safety net emergency department, the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Initiative studied the rates of linkage to care for newly diagnosed patients with HCV and sought ways to improve linkage to care for those who did not have health insurance. Results: Our multidisciplinary team partnered with a local federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a wholesale laboratory service to offer affordable care options, thus increasing the percent of uninsured patients who were linked to care for the treatment of their chronic HCV infections. Conclusions: The creative use of non-invasive laboratory testing from non-traditional sources, and collaboration with pre-existing community partners is one way to make the care of chronic HCV infection attainable by uninsured and underinsured patients.

AB - Background: In this brief report, we discuss enhancing access to hepatitis C treatment for uninsured patients in Southeast Georgia. Methods: Through our screening program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in a local safety net emergency department, the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Initiative studied the rates of linkage to care for newly diagnosed patients with HCV and sought ways to improve linkage to care for those who did not have health insurance. Results: Our multidisciplinary team partnered with a local federally qualified health center (FQHC) and a wholesale laboratory service to offer affordable care options, thus increasing the percent of uninsured patients who were linked to care for the treatment of their chronic HCV infections. Conclusions: The creative use of non-invasive laboratory testing from non-traditional sources, and collaboration with pre-existing community partners is one way to make the care of chronic HCV infection attainable by uninsured and underinsured patients.

KW - Hepatitis C

KW - Uninsured

KW - Medicaid

KW - CARE Initiative

UR - https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol8/iss1/3

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DO - 10.20429/jgpha.2020.080103

M3 - Article

JO - Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

JF - Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

ER -

Improving Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Uninsured Patients in Southeast Georgia

Abstract

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

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