1. ENDING THE EPIDEMICS: A FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS
Chris Taylor, Senior Director, Hepatitis
National Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting
December 5-7, 2016

2. The Challenge Ending the Epidemic: Hepatitis C Our Premise:
We will not eliminate hepatitis C in the U.S. unless we have a specific focus on the prevention, care, and intertwined needs of people who inject drugs
This prioritization must include political will, increased funding, and a social justice approach

3. NASTAD Call to Action
NASTAD is drafting a document calling for action:
Framing as a health equity and social justice issue
Prioritize primary prevention among PWID
Prioritize testing and vaccination among PWID
Eliminate treatment access barriers and prioritize HCV treatment for PWID
Address the intertwined epidemics of substance use, mental health, overdose prevention ,etc.
Provides recommendations for a range of stakeholders

4. NASTAD Call to Action
Call to Action on Addressing Hepatitis C Among PWID
We are not doing enough as a nation to urgently respond to the hepatitis C epidemic
We will not stop this epidemic unless we make prevention and treatment of hepatitis C among PWID the highest priority
Reducing hepatitis C infections is a public health imperative and a matter of social justice
A critical moment for reducing infections and saving lives
The right people, in the right places, and this must occur right now

5. NASTAD Call to Action Recommendations to include:
Prioritizing Prevention, Care and Treatment for People Who Inject Drugs
Preventing New Infections Through Harm Reduction
Improving Testing, Diagnosis and Linkage to Care
Prioritizing Prevention, Care and Treatment for People Who Inject Drugs
Focus public health strategies for HCV on primary prevention for PWID
Emphasize marginalized populations, including people of color, Native Americans, people who are homeless, incarcerated populations, individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis
Conduct vulnerability assessments of populations who are not accessing prevention, testing and treatment services in rural, suburban and urban areas
Preventing New Infections Through Harm Reduction
Work with state and local policymakers as well as other community organizations to promote policies that aim to improve drug users’ health
Fund access to needle exchange, clean drug injection equipment, syringe services
Provide universal access to harm reduction by removing restrictions on funding, breaking down barriers in laws/policies/regulations
Provide treatment and support services for people with substance use disorders
Coordinate and integrate with behavioral health, substance use, injury control, and corrections to meet the needs of people who use drugs
Partner with law enforcement and emergency services personnel on the provision of overdose prevention
Engage drug user communities meaningfully in program development and activities
Improving Testing, Diagnosis and Linkage to Care
Improving and Supporting Surveillance for HCV
Accessing Treatments Leading to Cure
Breaking Restrictions on HCV Treatment
Provider Education, Capacity and Expertise
Strong Public and Private Insurance Protections
Expanded Medicaid Coverage for People Living with HCV
Coordinating Federal, State and Local Responses

6. NASTAD Call to Action Roll Out
Release to capitalize on the National Academies Hepatitis Elimination Strategy
Blog Posts
Incorporated into Presidential transition strategy
Incorporated into Congressional education and appropriations strategy
Will guide TA efforts to health departments in 2017