As organizations committed to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat, we commend the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for including “Evaluation of Hepatitis B and C” quality measures in the 2027 Medicaid Adult Core Set. We strongly encourage all State Medicaid programs to adopt these measures, which will support identifying disparities in screening rates across demographic groups or regions and facilitate better tracking and understanding of the number and percentage of people who are tested for hepatitis B, tested for hepatitis C, and treated for hepatitis C in the U.S. The goals for the Adult Core Set are to encourage national reporting by states on a uniform set of measures and to support states in using them to drive quality improvement.
Adopting these hepatitis measures will help to ensure the highest quality of service delivery for Medicaid recipients, fostering better identification of new cases and linkage of people diagnosed with viral hepatitis to the care and cure that they need. Hepatitis B remains underdiagnosed in the U.S., with nearly 70% of people living with hepatitis B unaware they are living with the disease. That number is estimated to be higher among Medicaid recipients, who often have additional barriers to accessing healthcare. New research from Kishore, et al., found that about 1.3 million people received hepatitis C treatment between 2013 and 2025, with the highest number treated in 2015 and a steady decline since then—even after newer, easier-to-use medications became available. Many with chronic hepatitis B or C don’t experience or recognize symptoms and can develop liver failure or cancer as the disease progresses. Timely testing, diagnosis, and treatment of viral hepatitis prevents serious liver damage, reduces transmission and risk of liver cancer, and improves overall health outcomes.
We commend the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN) for leading these efforts in collaboration with academic-state partnerships in DE, MD, MI, OH, PA and VA and are pleased to support this effective tool that will help the U.S. move towards eliminating viral hepatitis. The adoption of this quality measure will help improve the services necessary for Medicaid populations and communities disproportionately impacted by viral hepatitis. Several health centers and health systems have already piloted this measure and found it to be practical, feasible, and actionable with proper guidance. Therefore, we urge State Medicaid programs to begin the process of implementing and reporting on this measure and stand ready to support them in those efforts.
Sincerely,
Hepatitis B Foundation
Hep B United
NASTAD
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)