End Hep C SF

Big (and we mean BIG) news!!! CA Medi-Cal has removed prior authorization requirements for prescribing HCV drugs Mavyret and Epclusa. Prior authorizations can delay timely patient treatment access. As a result, this change removes a significant barrier for clinical providers and should make prescribing HCV treatment quicker and easier! Major thanks to our colleagues at California Hepatitis Alliance, particularly Anne Donnelly and Andrew Reynolds, for their leadership on this issue.

#HRWeekofAction

In the midst of one public health crisis, we can't lose sight of epidemics we've faced for decades including the #HCV #HIV #HBV #STI and #Overdose epidemics. Fund the #EndTheEpidemicsCA budget request. https://tinyurl.com/2z5nzd4x #NPHW

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article We know that we can't eliminate HCV without treating People Who Inject Drugs. Congrats to all the #ECHSF partners on the progress our city is making in this work, and thanks to co-authors (Ali Mirzazadeh, Yea-Hung Chen, Jess Lin, Katie Burk, Erin C. Wilson, Desmond Miller, Danielle Veloso, Willi McFarland, and Meghan D. Morris) for highlighting this important work. We're heading in the right direction SF, but there's so much still to do!

We're starting in 30 minutes. It's not too late to join and takes 3 seconds to sign up!

In one week from today, longtime advocate and friend of NVHR, Robin Lord Smith is hosting a FREE 1-hour Hep C 101 educational webinar to get you up to speed #hepatitis C. Register here: https://cutt.ly/HepC-Apr21

O’liver is moving today. He’s not sure about getting a #COVID vaccine so he’s double masking to stay safe. #staysafe #oLiver

Tomorrow! Join us for a conversation about young people who inject drugs and HCV. March 16 from 11:30am-1pm (for young PWID, we can offer a $25 gift card in appreciation for them sharing their time and expertise). This will NOT be a presentation that requires people to love (or even usually understand) data - we're going to make it clear and easy to participate. People need to pre-register at http://bit.ly/youngpwidandhepc. **Please note, we will NOT be recording this meeting, to respect confidentiality of those who participate!**

In a new Morning Consult op-ed, NVHR’s Director of Policy Daniel Raymond urges the new administration to use the lessons learned by #COVID19 to strengthen publi...c health infrastructure and address the increasing rates of viral #hepatitis across the country. https://morningconsult.com//rising-hepatitis-rates-presen/ See more

It's not too late to register to #VOTE! In San Francisco you can register & vote today! Registration is available at all 588 polling places & the Voting Center at City Hall. Find your nearest polling place: https://sfelections.org/tools/map_poll_time/ #YourVoteMatters

More inspiring work from our partners at Homeless Youth Alliance.

Check out the great work being done in the community by our partners at San Francisco Drug Users' Union #EndStigma

Great closing comments from Laura Thomas of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. (We're paraphrasing here) "When we are facing the kinds of overdose deaths that we are.. in SF more people have died of overdose than #COVID... these deaths are preventable and predictable. Housing and supervised consumption sites are remedies." #druguserhealthsymposium

Dr. Kimberley Sue, MD, of #EndHepCSF partners the National @HarmReductionCoalition on #COVID-19 Policies Related to #HarmReduction. "Harm Reduction is so much more than just needle exchange." #druguserhealthsymposium

#EndHepCSF Coordinating Committee member Miss Ian Callaghan discusses the impact of #COVID-19 on SF’s #harmreduction activities at the San Francisco Drug Users' Union, particularly with respect to the need for service environments that are trauma-informed and encourage real self-care. "Try not to pass on your pain to someone that may be experiencing similar or worse circumstances... mindfulness is one of the biggest things... but it is difficult. Give people the benefit of the doubt."

Great session this morning on People of Color in Harm Reduction Leadership with Rachel Cabugao from SFDPH, Roy Tidwell from Code Tenderloin/Care Ambassadors, and Felanie Castro, from GLIDE. "Give the community what they need, not what you want to give them." #druguserhealthsymposium

Check out the great work being done by our partners at GLIDE Harm Reduction. Special shoutout to our Coordinating Committee member Amy Rodriguez and #EndHepCSF Community Navigator lead Amber Sheldon! all round! https://youtu.be/74K2NmpmQkw #HarmReduction #EndStigma

Session on Collaborating with the Medical Examiner and Responding to Overdose Spikes with Kristen Marshall of The DOPE Project (Drug Overdose Prevention and Education) and Phillip Coffiin, MD from SFDPH Center on Substance Use & Health. "We are seeing a steadily increasing rate of deaths by overdose. To be included in that information sharing is vital. We couldn't have a city wide response without that data."

Great session with Eileen Loughran and Thomas Knoble from SFDPH on how they have established good working relationships with law enforcement and first responders in San Francisco. "Tell the cops that the more needles that are available the less chance there is of contracting #HCV if you get stuck". All of today's sessions are moderated by #EndHepCSF backbone support Shelley Facente. #druguserhealthsymposium

Shout out to #EndHepCSF partners, Brenda Cantero from San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Leah Warner NP from SFDPH Street Medicine: "Understanding how challenging it is for a homeless person to get to an appointment is key. How we voice for people who are homeless...is really important." "We have to find ways to get remnants of community back in ways that are safe. #COVID has created so many challenges."

#EndHepCSF community advocate extraordinaire Richard Sullivan talks about his experiences at the #DrugUserHealthSymposium today. "As I walk the streets of San Francisco... #COVID has exacerbated everything... People stigmatize these things... These services are so important."

Katie Burk presenting on how #EndHepCSF has evolved since 2016. "Ask the community what they want and follow through with your commitments." #HepNO #druguserhealthsymposium