Researchers of this study compared hepatitis C cure rates in those receiving care at opioid treatment programs through facilitated telemedicine versus standard off-site referral to hepatitis specialists. The results showed a significant difference in cure rates: 90.3% in the telemedicine group compared to 39.4% in the referral group, with an estimated odds ratio of 2.9. In addition, 92.4% of telemedicine participants initiated treatment compared to only 40.4% in the referral group. Among those cured, there was a significant reduction in illicit drug use, and minimal reinfections were observed during the two years of follow up, with only 13 cases of reinfection, equating to a rate of 2.5 per 100 person-years.

These findings indicate that integrating facilitated telemedicine into opioid treatment programs significantly improves access to hepatitis C treatment, leading to higher cure rates, reduced illicit drug use, and low reinfection rates. The telemedicine model also resulted in high levels of participant satisfaction with healthcare delivery. The study suggests that this approach can help address barriers to hepatitis C treatment access, particularly for underserved populations. It could also be an effective strategy for improving health outcomes in this group.

Reference: Talal AH, Markatou M, Liu A, et al. Integrated Hepatitis C-Opioid Use Disorder Care Through Facilitated Telemedicine: A Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2024;331(16):1369-1378. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.2452.