Approaches to Offering Hepatitis C Treatment at Syringe Services Programs in the United States: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND

Innovative strategies are required to treat hepatitis C (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID). Integration of HCV treatment in syringe services programs (SSPs) may improve access, although multiple implementation challenges have been described.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review of published models of HCV treatment integrated in SSPs in the United States.

RESULTS

We found 13 articles including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, cohort analyses, and qualitative analyses that described a variety of approaches to integration that produced significant improvements in treatment initiation and cure compared with a referral-based standard of care. Variations in delivery models (mobile unit vs brick-and-mortar sites), provider location (on-site vs telehealth), pretreatment evaluation, pharmacy access, supportive services (eg, peer navigation) and funding were described.

CONCLUSIONS

Expansion of these models in the United States would not only contribute to HCV elimination but also create opportunities for the provision of other key healthcare services to this important population.