A new article published in JAMA Health Forum outlines a path forward for eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States, emphasizing the need for coordinated, multi-stakeholder action to turn curative science into real-world public health impact. The article, “Stakeholder Engagement for Hepatitis C Virus Elimination,” is co-authored by Lou Garrison, Professor Emeritus of Health Economics in the Department of Pharmacy and The Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute, along with Bruce C. M. Wang, PhD.
Although highly effective cures for hepatitis C have been available for more than a decade, an estimated four million people in the U.S. still live with the virus—many without knowing it. Each year, tens of thousands of new infections occur, disproportionately affecting people who use drugs and others who face barriers to traditional health care.
The article arrives at a pivotal moment. In 2025, bipartisan legislation—the Cure Hepatitis C Act—was introduced in Congress, calling for a national elimination program and strategy. Garrison and Wang argue that new tools, including the first FDA-authorized point-of-care HCV RNA test coupled with curative direct-acting anti-viral medicines make it possible and cost-saving to move from a complex, multi-visit diagnostic process to a “test-and-treat” model that can deliver results and begin care in a single visit.
“Science has already given us what we need to cure hepatitis C,” said Garrison. “The remaining challenge is implementation—making sure people can be tested and treated where they are, in ways that are fast, trusted, and accessible.”
The authors outline a national framework that engages federal and state agencies, health systems, community organizations, insurers, and industry partners. The goal: create a simplified, equitable infrastructure that brings testing and treatment into nontraditional settings such as community clinics, mobile outreach programs, and harm-reduction sites—places where many at-risk individuals already receive care.
The article also underscores the economic case for action. Untreated HCV can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and premature death, driving enormous health care costs. Prior analyses show that treatment is not only lifesaving but cost-saving over time, with the potential to save billions in public spending while preventing future transmission.
At the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, this work reflects a broader commitment to public health impact—bridging research, policy, and practice to address urgent health challenges. Through its leadership in health economics, outcomes research, and policy analysis, UW is helping shape national conversations about how innovations reach the people who need them most.
“Eliminating hepatitis C is achievable,” Garrison said. “What it will take is the will to coordinate across sectors and ensure that cures don’t remain confined to clinics that many people never reach.”
The article is published open access in JAMA Health Forum and is available at this JAMA link.