Briefcase

Streamlining the Journey to a Cure: Optimizing the Hepatitis C Virus Care Cascade

Launch Date
07/08/2020
Credit Amount
0.00 Expired
Credit Expires
07/08/2021

Faculty

Kris V. Kowdley, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, FAASLD
Director, Liver Institute Northwest
Clinical Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Seattle, WA
Kris V. Kowdley, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, FAASLD

Dr. Kowdley received his BS in Biology and Anthropology as a member of the Dean’s List at Columbia University, and his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Oregon Health Science University and a Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Dr. Kowdley is internationally recognized as a clinician, educator, and researcher in the area of liver disease and has presented his research on liver diseases at more than 165 national and international meetings and scientific symposia. He is the author of over 450 articles, book chapters, reviews, and commentaries in this area, with publications in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Surgery, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, American Journal of Physiology, and New England Journal of Medicine, among other professional publications.

Dr. Kowdley has extensive experience in clinical trials in all areas of liver disease, including hepatitis C, cholestatic liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and hepatitis B. He has been a principal investigator in several NIDDK-sponsored clinical trials in PBC and PSC and is a member of executive committee of the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis clinical research network (NASH CRN). Dr. Kowdley has also served as the lead investigator of several major international clinical trials in hepatitis C.

Dr. Kowdley’s laboratory program is focused on the role of iron as a co-factor in many liver diseases, including hepatitis C, hemochromatosis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). He has developed murine models for NASH and is currently exploring the contribution of hepatic iron deposition on the severity of NASH.

Dr. Kowdley’s research program has been continuously funded by the NIDDK since 1999 in addition to several grants from foundations and scientific societies.

Scott C. Howell, DO
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Los Angeles, CA
Scott C. Howell, DO

Dr. Scott Howell has served in various executive positions within healthplans, delegated medical groups, direct-care delivery, and healthcare policy for 30 years. He is currently providing medical director support for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a specialty C-SPN healthplan.

Dr. Howell is board certified in Family Practice, Preventative Medicine and Public Health, and Addiction Medicine. He received a Masters in Economics from the University of Miami, a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM) from Tulane University, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from California State University Fresno.

Dr. Howell served in the military for 25 years, with his last assignment in the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) at the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoDIG), Special Plans and Operations (SPO), where he concentrated on the Wounded Warrior Program, BioAssurity, and Ebola Outbreak Assessments.

Dr. Howell has published peer-reviewed articles on both finance and medicine.

Anthony Martinez, MD, AAHIVS, FAASLD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine University at Buffalo
Medical Director, Hepatology Erie County Medical Center Buffalo, NY
Anthony Martinez, MD, AAHIVS, FAASLD
Associate Professor of Medicine

Dr. Martinez cares for patients with liver disease and addiction disorders, including opiate dependency, viral hepatitis, alcoholic and fatty liver disease, at Erie County Medical Center where he is the Medical Director of Hepatology. His clinic “La Bodega” has been recognized both nationally and internationally as a novel co- localized model for the management of viral hepatitis and addiction disorders, and has been awarded a New York State World AIDS Day Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award. The clinic has also been designated as a center for drug user health in New York State. Dr. Martinez has lectured around the world on hepatitis C management among people with substance use disorders, most recently at the International Hepatology Exchange in Amsterdam. His team’s work has been presented at the annual liver meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD); the annual conference of the International Network On Viral Hepatitis in Substance Users, and at the International Liver Congress.

His research involves improving hepatitis C treatment in populations disproportionately affected by HCV, particularly people who inject drugs. He has been a primary and co-investigator on numerous clinical trials related to new therapeutic agents for hepatitis C and fatty liver disease.

A fierce advocate, he has worked to eliminate hepatitis C treatment restrictions throughout the United States and in Europe.

Dr. Martinez is a member of the AASLD where he was recently elected to the HCV special interest group steering committee, the European Association for the Study of the Liver, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

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Statement of Need Learning Objectives Financial Support Target Audience Credit Information Disclosure Declaration Obtaining Credit

Statement of Need

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and mortality worldwide. The opioid crisis has caused a rise in injection drug use, which has contributed significantly to the increase in HCV infections. The United States experienced a 238% increase in new HCV infections between 2010 and 2016, which has led to a goal to eliminate hepatitis by treating 80% of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV by 2030. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases/Infectious Disease Society of America (AASLD/IDSA) guidelines aim to achieve this with universal, one-time screening of all individuals over 18 for HCV, with individuals at increased risk (e.g., people who inject drugs [PWID]) screened more frequently, as well as universal testing of pregnant women at the initiation of prenatal care.

Once diagnosed, treatment with currently available direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is strongly recommended for all persons with chronic HCV infection. However, recent studies have shown persistent gaps in the HCV care continuum, with underdiagnosis and undertreatment being the major barriers toward achieving the goal of eliminating HCV. With primary care clinicians and community health workers representing an important front-line resource for early screening and treatment for HCV infection, it is imperative to educate primary care providers (PCPs) and community health workers to expand the HCV workforce and linkage-to-care opportunities.

This CME Outfitters live and on-demand webcast will feature expert faculty hosting an interactive discussion on implementing HCV screening, developing new methods of coordinated care, and addressing barriers to treatment access.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this CME/CE activity, participants should be able to:

  • Implement HCV screening for all adults and at-risk populations including PWID and women who are pregnant, in alignment with AASLD guidance.
  • Develop new methods of PCP/specialist coordinated care to minimize gaps in linkage to care and optimize the HCV care cascade.
  • Address barriers to access to treatment, such as stigma and HCP perceptions about substance use and PWID.

The following learning objectives pertain only to those requesting CNE or CPE credit:

  • Explain HCV screening guidelines for all adults and at-risk populations including PWID and women who are pregnant, in alignment with AASLD guidance.
  • Identify new methods of PCP/specialist coordinated care to minimize gaps in linkage to care and optimize the HCV care cascade.
  • Describe barriers to access to treatment, such as stigma and HCP perceptions about substance use and PWID.

Financial Support

Supported by an educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Target Audience

Primary care physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists

Credit Information

Physicians (ACCME) 1.0

CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses (ANCC) 1.0

This activity is designated for 1.0 contact hour.

Note to Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioners can apply for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). AANP will accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ from organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Nurse practitioners can also apply for credit through their state boards.

Pharmacists/Pharmacy Tech (ACPE) 1.0

This application-based activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit.
Activity UAN: 0376-0000-20-103-H01-P

ABIM MOC 1.0

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 medical knowledge MOC point in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Royal College MOC

Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

MIPS Improvement Activity

Completion of this accredited CME activity meets the expectations of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program (IA_PSPA_28) for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS). Clinicians should submit their improvement activities by attestation via the CMS Quality Payment Program website.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and attempted to resolve any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Dr. Kowdley reports that he receives research support from Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.; CymaBay Therapeutics; Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Genfit; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; HighTide Therapeutics Inc.; Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Zydus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is on the advisory committee for Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; Blade Therapeutics; Boehringer Ingelheim; Merck & Co, Inc.; and Roche. He is on the speakers bureau for AbbVie Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; and Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Howell reports that he is a consultant for Echosens and Semler Scientific, Inc.

Dr. Martinez reports that he receives research support from AbbVie Inc.; Allergan; and Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is on the advisory committee for AbbVie Inc.; and Gilead Sciences, Inc. He is on the speakers bureau for AbbVie Inc.; Dova Pharmaceuticals; Eisai Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; and Salix Pharmaceuticals.

Disclosures were obtained from the CME Outfitters, LLC staff: No disclosures to report.

  • Tony Graham, MD (peer reviewer)
  • Mae Ochoa, RPh (peer reviewer)
  • Susan Perry (planning committee)
  • Jan Perez (planning committee)
  • Sharon Tordoff (planning committee)

Faculty of this CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices.

Obtaining Credit

Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (75% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac. For complete technical requirements and privacy policy, visit our Privacy & Confidentiality page.

 

NOTE: Pharmacist CE Universal Activity Number, Enduring: 0376-0000-20-103-H01-P.

 

Questions about this activity?

Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).

TV-114-070820-47

Streamlining the Journey to a Cure: Optimizing the Hepatitis C Virus Care Cascade
Event Date: 07/08/2020