Washington State Hepatitis C Elimination

We are aiming to eliminate hepatitis C in Washington state by 2030. Scroll to learn more.

In 2018, Washington State became the first state to launch a hepatitis C elimination plan.

Major Goals and Priorities

  • Double annual number of hepatitis C treatment starts by Washington Medicaid recipients to 3,000

  • Help realize the elimination of hepatitis C in Washington State prisons

  • Support Washington State Department of Corrections’ hepatitis C elimination efforts by expanding training, raising awareness, tracking progress, and documenting successes

  • Develop relationships with jails and identify pathways for linkage to care following release from jail

  • Re-establish Washington State policy, advocacy, and coalition-building activities

  • Provide technical assistance to groups working in high-impact settings seeking to expand HCV services and scale-up innovations to close gaps in linkage to care

Correctional Health Education

Get Tested, Get Treated, Get Cured.

Did you know that people living in correctional facilities are approximately 20 times more likely to have hepatitis C and up to 10 times more likely to have hepatitis B than the general population?

Misinformation and a lack of institutional resources contribute to the high rates of viral hepatitis infection among people experiencing incarceration. Variation in policies and practices for screening and treatment of viral hepatitis means many incarcerated patients do not know their status. They are often unable to receive treatment and may find it difficult to advocate for themselves. Since 2004, HEP has been involved with work to expand viral hepatitis education, testing, treatment in correctional facilities in hopes of stopping the spread behind bars and improving health outcomes for people who are incarcerated.

  • Since 2004, HEP has been contracted by the Washington State Department of Corrections to conduct viral hepatitis and peer educator trainings at prisons and work release facilities throughout Washington State.

  • In 2006, HEP began conducting viral hepatitis and harm reduction trainings to people living at the King County Correctional Facility, and we have since developed a partnership with the Seattle Municipal Court to expand educational opportunities for people who are justice-involved throughout King County.

  • Since 2015, in addition to viral hepatitis classes, HEP began training people living in Washington prison facilities as peer educators in the SHIELD program. Self Help in Eliminating Life-threatening Diseases (SHIELD) is an evidence-based, HIV harm reduction intervention supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HEP collaborated with prison administrators to adapt the SHIELD curriculum for the correctional setting and incorporated viral hepatitis education into the training. SHIELD graduates are certified peer educators who are trained to communicate with others in their social networks about harm reduction for HIV and viral hepatitis. Peers often have greater credibility inside these networks, especially in prison, and they can reach people who may not be engaged in traditional voluntary educational programming. The goal is for accurate information about HIV and viral hepatitis prevention to reach as many people as possible.

  • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Correctional Health Program at HEP has modified and adapted in-person educational materials for self-directed correspondence delivery for people experiencing incarceration while spatial distancing measures are in place.

A narrow corridor with wooden floors, white walls, and multiple windows on the right side. There are signs with Japanese characters on the left side above doorways, and a staircase at the end of the hall leading down, with a faint green emergency exit sign and a fire extinguisher visible.

Curriculum

For each of these partnerships, the curriculum addresses a range of issues relevant to the diverse developmental and cultural composition found in correctional populations and includes:

  • Modes of viral hepatitis and HIV disease transmission, methods for prevention, including harm reduction and immunization, disease outcomes, and options for treatment

  • Safer options to prevent transmission of viral hepatitis and other blood borne infections

  • Resources for formerly incarcerated individuals upon release, including referrals to community and public health facilities

  • Support and resources for persons with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection including transmission prevention, health promotion, and advocacy information