As part of ongoing efforts to highlight successful health department initiatives aimed at ending the HIV and hepatitis epidemics, NASTAD has released an installment of Success Stories that feature health department hepatitis programs. These stories highlight initiatives in Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi, that aim to increase testing and linkage to care for hepatitis B and C and ultimately work towards elimination of the hepatitis epidemics in the US.

1. The Louisiana Department of Health partnered with three clinic sites in high-prevalence areas to increase HCV screening, retention, and cure among people of color co-infected with HIV and HCV through provider education and practice transformation.
2. In Maryland, the Department of Health established a multi-jurisdiction HCV testing and linkage to care program in collaboration with local public health and community leaders to respond to the gaps that exist along the continuum and reach individuals most impacted by HCV.
3. The Mississippi State Department of Health’s “Test to Treat Family and Self” program provides culturally competent HBV education, evidence based-interventions to empower community members to manage their chronic illnesses, and insurance navigation in coastal Vietnamese communities.

These programs illustrate the importance of partnerships in expanding access to hepatitis testing and care. Additional Chair’s Challenge resources, including previously featured success stories, can be found here.