Hepatitis C Prevalence and Impact - The CDC estimates over 70,000 new hepatitis C cases each year, with about 4 million people living with the infection, equivalent to the population of Los Angeles [7] - Complications from hepatitis C cause approximately 12,000 deaths annually [8] - Hepatitis C prevalence is significantly higher in marginalized populations, with 1-2% in the housed population, 9% in US prisons, and 23% among patients at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless [9] Treatment and Elimination - Hepatitis C is curable with short, well-tolerated, highly effective, and cost-effective medicines [10] - The World Health Organization set a goal of global hepatitis C elimination by 2030 [10] - The US is lagging behind other countries in hepatitis C elimination, with only one in three people treated and not expected to reach the goal by 2050 [11] Barriers to Treatment - People with hepatitis C often lack health insurance or access to regular medical providers, and face complex insurance barriers [12] - Some medical providers refuse to treat people who use drugs, despite drug use not affecting treatment effectiveness [13] - Internalized stigma and prior discrimination prevent people from seeking treatment [14] Successful Treatment Programs - Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Hepatitis C program has provided over 1,600 courses of treatment, with 87% completion and 85% cure rate [22] - The program reduced hepatitis C prevalence from 23% to 9% among its patients [23] - Medicaid has saved an estimated $12 billion by providing hepatitis C treatment to its members [24]