People who use drugs (PWUDs) face structural barriers to access prevention and care for hepatitis C (HCV) infection. While many inpatient substance use treatment programs (ISUTPs) often screen for HCV, few provide treatment, leading to missed opportunities for care. This presentation will introduce a client-centered telehealth model, initiating HCV treatment during detoxification and rehabilitation to enhance early engagement and ensure continuity of care.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Viral Hepatitis Program partnered with a hospital-based outpatient program to implement HCV telehealth services at four ISUTPs from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2024 where care coordination was supported by Community health workers (CHW) onsite.

Over three years, 164 clients completed their initial telehealth visits, with 80% reporting recent injection drug use and 51% being homeless. Treatment initiation rates improved from 51% in Year 1 to 75% in Year 3. While sustained virologic response (SVR) rates highlighted discharge-related challenges, programmatic refinements included collaboration with an in-house pharmacy for prompt treatment initiation and return-to-care outreach post-discharge.

This model demonstrates the feasibility of integrating HCV care within ISUTPs through telehealth and CHWs. It emphasizes the changes implemented to strengthen the care cascade and highlights the potential for broader application in high-risk settings.