Action Alert: Expanded HCV Screening Guidance

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released draft guidance expanding their hepatitis C testing recommendations to cover all adults. Specifically, the guidance states that in addition to those persons reporting risk factors, all adults aged 18-79 should be offered a one-time screening for current HCV infection. This recommendation incorporates new evidence and replaces the 2013 USPSTF recommendations, which recommended one-time screening in adults born between 1945 and 1965. If approved, this recommendation will have an evidence grade of ‘B’, which is strong enough that providers will be encouraged to adopt the recommendation and health insurance plans will be required to cover the screening test with no co-pay required of the patient.

It’s important to let USPSTF that we support this testing recommendation change!

 The draft recommendation is open for public comment until September 23, 2019 at 8:00 PM EST. 

One area of the guidance to call attention is the need to make explicit that all pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis C infection and all exposed infants should receive follow up screening. Routine screening of pregnant women would allow for better follow-up and care for both the parent following birth and the infants exposed to HCV.