Gov. Jay Inslee is aiming to eliminate hepatitis C in Washington state by 2030 as part of his ongoing efforts to build a healthier Washington. The governor today issued a directive at Harborview Hepatitis and Liver Clinic that orders state agencies to work with local public health, tribal governments, and other partners to create and implement a statewide hepatitis C elimination plan. It also directs HCA to pursue innovative approaches to purchasing hepatitis C treatment on behalf of the state. The state pays for more than 4,000 people each year who are covered by state-purchased health care.
Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne disease in the United States and in Washington state. From 2012 through 2017, nearly 40,000 cases were newly reported in Washington, and hepatitis C reports state-wide have increased every year since 2012. Most people with hepatitis C don’t know they have it, and the opioid public health crisis has made the problem worse. In recent years, advances in medicine have led to a drug that cures hepatitis C. The drug is costly, but hepatitis C-related hospitalizations cost Washington taxpayers and insurance carriers $114 million between 2010 and 2014.
The plan’s strategies will include:
- HCA will lead a first-in-nation comprehensive procurement of hepatitis C medications purchased by state agencies (including the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Labor & Industries) to get the best prices possible from manufacturers and make sure the treatment is more readily available to all. The state pays for hepatitis C treatment for more than 4,000 people each year who are covered by state-purchased health care.
- The state Department of Health (DOH) will lead a public-private partnership for the development of an elimination plan and convene a hepatitis C elimination coordinating committee. DOH will also bolster efforts to ensure those living with hepatitis C know their status and are connected to care and the cure, and to ensure those at risk have access to preventative services.
