Collaborations to Improve Identification and Care for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection among Persons in the United States who were Born in Countries with Intermediate-High (>2%) HBV Prevalence (CDC-RFA-PS14-1414)

Project Period Length: 3 Years

This program is intended to improve the capacity of health-care providers and other stakeholders serving persons born in countries with intermediate-high HBV infection prevalence to increase the identification of persons with chronic HBV and link them to high-quality, ongoing HBV-directed medical care. A coalition of key stakeholders (i.e. community-based organizations, health departments, specialists in HBV care, and primary-care providers) serving foreign-born persons from countries with intermediate-high HBV prevalence was funded to develop and implement these services. Partners will collaborate to implement screening and case-finding activities; conduct community outreach, patient navigation, case management, and other support services; implement training of primary-care staff to enhance screening, monitoring, management and referral practices; and implement activities to increase community and health professional awareness of hepatitis B. Expected outcomes include meeting or exceeding targets for testing of persons born in countries with intermediate-high HBV prevalence each year (at least 1,000 individuals), increase linkage to ongoing medical services for persons who are identified with chronic HBV infection, improve the quality of medical care for persons with chronic HBV that is provided in primary-care practice, and in the long-term decreases in HBV related morbidity and mortality and reductions in health disparities among foreign-born populations.

CDC has awarded funding for three grantees in:

• Chicago, IL –  Asian Health Coalition
  (Project title: PROJECT PHOENIX – Positive Health Outcomes through Empowerment and Navigation Initiatives towards Excellence)

• Northern New Jersey and New York City, NY –  Saint Barnabas Medical Center in partnership with Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
  (Project title: The Northern New Jersey and New York City Collaborative Hepatitis B Program – Building Bridges to Liver Health)

• Sacramento, CA – The University of California at Davis
  Project title: SCrATCH – Sacramento Collaborative to Advance Testing and Care of Hepatitis B)

Funding:

Funding for the three-year project period was approximately $900,000 each year.

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