Implementation of a Hepatitis C Treatment Program in Primary Care at an Urban Safety-net Hospital: a Budget Impact Analysis

Karen Lasser proposed to evaluate economic and health outcomes for a primary care-based HCV treatment program in a patient-centered medical home. The treatment model was based on the chronic care model including a multidisciplinary team with physician, nursing, social worker, pharmacy technician and pharmacist. The team worked together to provide evaluation for the patient, HCV education, social support, adherence support, medication teaching visits, and prior authorization to facilitate patient progress through the treatment cascade. To evaluate program success, Lasser and colleagues measured and reported HCV treatment program services utilization, health outcomes achieved (including SVR) and conduct a budget impact analysis to address the scale-up and sustainability of program implementation.

Karen Lasser is a senior editor at JAMA, primary care physician, health disparities researcher, and professor of medicine and public health at the Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health. She has expertise in developing interventions to reduce disparities and improve quality of care, and conducting clinical trials. Lasser’s areas of research include quality of care, health disparities, health policy, smoking cessation, and practices in primary care to reduce prescription drug abuse.