HHS Unveils $100M Pilot to Eliminate Hepatitis C in High-Risk Populations: What IPC Professionals Need to Know

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

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The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $100 million pilot initiative aimed at eliminating Hepatitis C (HCV) among high-risk populations, including individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), severe mental illness (SMI), and those experiencing homelessness. For infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals, this initiative represents both a public health opportunity and a strategic alignment with long-term disease mitigation goals.

Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot is designed to identify, treat, and cure HCV within vulnerable communities. This effort directly supports the goals of IPC programs by reducing a significant reservoir of chronic infection that can contribute to the transmission of pathogens in health care and community settings.

HCV is a bloodborne pathogen with high prevalence in populations with limited access to preventive services. Many individuals at risk remain undiagnosed and untreated, leading to advanced liver disease and prolonged infectious periods. Despite the availability of highly effective oral treatments with cure rates exceeding 95% in 8 to 12 weeks, challenges remain in reaching those most affected.

The pilot program promotes an integrated care model that addresses the infection and coexisting factors, such as behavioral health issues and unstable housing, that hinder treatment success. For IPC leaders, this holistic approach supports upstream infection prevention by breaking the cycle of reinfection and ongoing transmission.

State and community-based organizations are eligible to apply for funding. Selected demonstration sites will serve as test beds for best practices in HCV screening, care coordination, treatment adherence, and prevention of reinfection. These models may inform future infection prevention protocols in settings where HCV risk intersects with mental health, substance use, and transient populations.

Importantly, the pilot reflects an investment in proactive, community-based strategies that align with IPC priorities: reducing chronic infectious disease burden, improving screening in nontraditional settings, and ensuring that infection control measures extend beyond acute care environments.

Because IPC professionals play a key role in advising, coordinating, and scaling effective HCV prevention strategies, this pilot creates a timely opportunity to partner with behavioral health and public health sectors to ensure that infection control expertise informs every step of the care continuum.