Cambridge, MA --- (September 15, 2015) The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI) of Harvard Law School, in collaboration with Caring Ambassadors and One in Four Chronic Health, will host a forum in Portland, Oregon today on treatment access for patients living with hepatitis C (HCV). Attendees of Beating HCV: An Open Forum on Opportunities and Challenges for Treating Hepatitis C will hear from medical experts and leaders in the advocacy community, examine the impact of HCV in Oregon, and engage in a candid discussion regarding current opportunities and challenges to expanding access to HCV prevention, screening, and treatment.
“We are in the middle of a crisis in Oregon,” says Lorren Sandt, co-founder and executive director of Caring Ambassadors. “Deaths from HCV have risen steadily over the last decade and, at this point, Oregon’s HCV mortality rate is almost double the national average. It’s crucial that we increase awareness of this disease and develop a coordinated treatment and prevention plan.” According to research by the Oregon Health Authority, as of 2014, more than 47,000 individuals in Oregon had been diagnosed with HCV. However, it is estimated that half of all HCV infections go unreported, and the actual number of Oregonians living with HCV could be closer to 95,000. Each year, roughly 5,000 Oregonians are diagnosed with chronic HCV and over 400 die from the disease. While new research has led to the development of treatments that can effectively cure HCV, Oregon still faces significant challenges in its battle to turn the tide on this disease.
In June 2015, CHLPI, along with researchers from Brown University Department of Medicine, Treatment Access Group, and Kirby Institute of Australia, published “Restrictions for Medicaid Reimbursement of Sofosbuvir for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States” in Annals of Internal Medicine. The article analyzes treatment access restrictions in Medicaid programs in 42 states, including Oregon. “Through our national research, we have found that insurance providers, including the state Medicaid programs, have in place access restrictions that are not based on scientific evidence, current treatment guidelines, or clinical data,” says Greenwald. “Restrictions are currently being based on alcohol and drug use, severity of liver damage/fibrosis, and access to specialty providers. However, we know that many of the individuals who are denied access to treatment by these restrictions should in fact be prioritized for treatment to improve individual health outcomes and prevent the transmission of the disease. Since Oregon has access restrictions in place and a high concentration of HCV-infected individuals, it makes sense to host a forum here.”
Beating HCV will feature a panel of experts, including: Dr. Ann Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention, Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division; Dr. Atif Zaman, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair of Clinical Programs, Department of Medicine, Section Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health & Science University; and Robert Greenwald, J.D., Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School. Dr. Thomas will speak on findings of the Oregon Health Authority’s recent report, “Viral Hepatitis in Oregon,” and provide context for the discussion by highlighting the significance of HCV in Oregon, as well as the associated health disparities. Dr. Zaman will share his thoughts on the path forward for HCV treatment and the challenges in Oregon’s HCV treatment landscape. Finally, Professor Greenwald will speak on CHLPI’s recent work regarding HCV treatment access in public and private health plans across the nation.
Following the afternoon panel, attendees will be able to engage the panelists in a discussion on the current opportunities and challenges for addressing HCV in Oregon. Attendees come from various fields, and will be a cross-section of physicians, health plan representatives, local advocates, and government officials. While the forum is not open to the public, CHLPI will share the presentations from the panelists and highlights from the large group conversation on its website. “This forum is an important first step for Oregon and hopefully will set an example for the rest of the nation in terms of advocates, healthcare professionals, and government sitting down together to better understand how to address the growing problem of HCV,” notes BJ Cavnor, founding executive director of One in Four Chronic Health.
