For Coordinating Management of Opioid Use Disorder and Hepatitis C Infection, Telemedicine Works

Data from a single-site study suggest that using telehealth to integrate treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with an opioid use disorder treatment program (OTP) improves HCV treatment outcomes. To test the generalizability of the approach, investigators randomized 12 OTP clinics in New York to refer HCV-infected patients to a specialist (referral group) or to OTP-integrated telemedicine for HCV infection management, including pickup of antivirals at the OTP clinic (integrated OTP group). The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR; defined as undetectable HCV load at 12 weeks after treatment cessation).

Of 602 enrollees (61% male, 49% nonwhite), 312 were in the referral group and 290 in the integrated OTP group. In …