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Hepatitis CApril 2024

What Researchers Found Testing Telemedicine Hepatitis C Care in Opioid Treatment

This 602-patient trial compared on-site telemedicine hepatitis C care at opioid treatment programs with off-site referral to a specialist. Telemedicine more than doubled cure rates by removing referral barriers.

What the trial was testing

The trial enrolled 602 patients with hepatitis c. The study was sponsored by Andrew Talal and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.

What the results showed

90% cured with telemedicine vs. 39% with off-site referral.

JAMA · 2024 · NCT02933970

These findings — that cured of hepatitis C with on-site telemedicine vs. off-site specialist referral — were published in the JAMA and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 602 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with hepatitis c, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Direct-acting antiviral pills for hepatitis C are FDA-approved and available now. Many opioid treatment programs and harm-reduction clinics now offer hepatitis C treatment on-site or via telemedicine. Ask your addiction medicine doctor about access — Medicare and most state Medicaid programs cover treatment.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.