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Abstract Details
Hepatitis C Virus Screening among Baby Boomers: The Positive Benefits of Health Education and Outreach during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Jan 19;11(3):302. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11030302.
1Office of Population Health, Sendero Health Plans, Inc., Austin, TX 78741, USA.
2Undergraduate Public Health Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
3Former Chief Executive Officer, Sendero Health Plans, Inc., Austin, TX 78741, USA.
4Office of Population Health and Science, The Litaker Group, LLC, Austin, TX 78716, USA.
Abstract
In 2019, 2020, and 2021, Sendero Health Plans, an ACA health insurance company, implemented Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) health education and outreach screening campaigns. Chi-square goodness-of-fit and tests of independence were performed to assess and compare the uptake of HCV screening among baby boomers in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, 17.9% (308/1,718), 10.9% (93/852), and 8.5% (37/435) of eligible members were screened, respectively. Individuals were more likely to be screened for HCV in 2019 than in 2020 and 2021 (p < 0.0001). In 2019, 2020, and 2021, 39.9%, 26.9%, and 48.6% of annual screenings occurred during the health campaign months, respectively. Annual HCV screening rates were lower during the COVID-19 pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic cohort. However, screening rates during the months of outreach and education contributed to nearly 50% of annual screenings in the pandemic year 2021, thus representing a positive impact on preventive screening uptake despite the pandemic. Missed screening opportunities affect HCV transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. Yet, health education and outreach continue to work, even during a pandemic.