Theme: Models of Care Year: 2022
Background:
By the end of 2019, among 87,927 New York City (NYC) residents living with diagnosed HIV with ≥1
HIV or hepatitis C (HCV) lab since 2014, 10,139 (11.5%) were ever diagnosed with HCV. HIV infection
was the fourth most common risk factor among people aged 18–34 years newly reported with HCV
in NYC in 2020. People co-infected with HCV and HIV are at higher risk for liver disease and death.
The NYC Health Department used surveillance data to identify NYC’s co-infected population and
provide telephone-based navigation services to support linkage to HCV care.
Description of model of care/intervention:
The NYC Health Department identified people with HIV/HCV co-infection by matching HIV and HCV
surveillance data. Laboratory reports of people living with HIV whose last HCV RNA test was positive
were used to direct outreach. Navigators performed ≥3 telephone outreach attempts for linkage to
HCV care and supportive services. Navigators spoke patients’ language or used interpretation
services to connect patients to HIV and HCV care, make appointments, provide reminders, and
support treatment initiation and completion. HCV and overdose prevention education was offered
to everyone. Test history and linkage to care outcomes were entered in the NYC HCV surveillance
system.
Effectiveness:
From May 2018–January 2022, navigators attempted outreach to 1,336 NYC residents with HIV/HCV
co-infection, and reached 410 (31%) people. Of these, 369 (90%) received telephone patient
navigation services and were connected to a provider who could treat HCV. After this connection,
291 (79%) attended an appointment, and 131 (45%) had a subsequent negative HCV RNA result after
navigation services were received.
Conclusion and next steps:
The NYC Health Department effectively used surveillance data to identify people with HIV and HCV
co-infection and established a team of navigators to support people living with HIV through HCV care
and treatment.
Disclosure of Interest Statement:
The authors have no conflicts of interest.