July 2017  

Screening for Hepatitis C

National data indicates that New Mexico has the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of any state (one source estimates the infection rate at 1.3% of the non-incarcerated population). With an asymptomatic phase that may last decades, it is important for those at increased risk to be offered screening so that exacerbating behaviors can be modified and potentially curative treatment can be considered.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)¹ and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)² recommend one-time screening for those born from 1945 through 1965. Screening is also recommended for persons found to be at increased risk for HCV infection, defined as:

• Current or past injection drug use
• Blood transfusion or solid organ transplant prior to July 1992
• Long-term hemodialysis
• Born to an HCV-infected mother
• Incarceration
• Intranasal drug use
• Getting an non-professional tattoo
• Persons with HIV infection
• Persons with unexplained liver disease
• Other known percutaneous exposures to HCV (such as health care workers after needlesticks involving HCV-infected blood)

The goal of BCBSNM is to identify and treat as many of our members that are 18 years of age and older as possible. BCBSNM encourages HCV testing for all members even if they don't fall into one of the groups above. BCBSNM Preferred HCV treatments are Zepatier for genotypes 1 and 4 and Epclusa for Genotypes 2 and 3.

¹ Final Recommendation Statement: Hepatitis C: Screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. May 2015. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/hepatitis-c-screening
² Viral Hepatitis – Hepatitis C Information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/guidelinesc.htm