City Advocacy Priorities:

  1. Expand New York City Council’s Viral Hepatitis Initiative (VHI)

    The VHI, established in 2014, has provided a strong public health response to NYC’s hepatitis B and C epidemics. To adequately address NYC’s viral hepatitis epidemic and fully implement the plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030, the city must increase the $2.4 million allocated by the City Council to $5 million.

  2. Increase access to hepatitis C testing

    Purchase Xpert® point-of-care hepatitis C RNA tests to distribute citywide, with a focus on areas with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed hepatitis C.

  3. Promote awareness of hepatitis B and C testing, treatment, and prevention, and of the 2024 amendment to the NYS hepatitis C screening law

    Develop and disseminate public-facing social media marketing campaigns and health promotion materials.

  4. Fund additional patient navigators within the Check Hep B, Check Hep C, and Hep C Peer programs

    Provide funding to hire additional patient navigators within these three programs to help guide patients through testing and treatment.

  5. Support hepatitis B and C clinical education training

    Fund three agencies to deliver clinical education and training to community-based providers, health centers, faith-based organizations, substance use providers, and immigrant health organizations.

[Read the full priorities document] →

Advocacy Priorities State

  1. Increase hepatitis C elimination funding in the Medicaid Pharmacy Provision reappropriation and all hep C–related funding to the AIDS Institute

    HCV elimination efforts have remained flat-funded at only $5 million for a number of years. It is critical to sustain the existing HCV elimination funding included in the Medicaid Pharmacy Provision reappropriation and all hep C–related funding to the AIDS Institute, and to add an additional $5 million in baseline funding so the NYS DOH can more robustly implement the HCV elimination plan by supporting the priorities below.

    $10 million total

  2. Increase funding for patient navigation in traditional and non-traditional settings

    Patient navigators are essential advocates, shown to significantly increase linkage to care and curative treatment. They help individuals navigate often complex health care systems, address financial and logistical barriers, connect patients to community resources, and reduce stigma and disparities.

    $900,000

  3. Prioritize investment in syringe service programs and comprehensive harm reduction services

    Syringe service programs (SSPs) are a proven component of effective HCV prevention and care. They significantly reduce transmission and provide low-barrier access to testing and curative treatment, saving lives and avoidable health spending.

    $4.1 million

  4. Implement opt-out testing in NYS correctional facilities for individuals on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

    An estimated 30% of New Yorkers living with hepatitis C will spend at least part of the year in a correctional facility. Supporting innovative models of HCV testing and treatment in these settings offers an opportunity to accelerate elimination efforts, reduce community transmission, and lower health care costs.

    Program Bill

  5. Expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners to provide HCV care and treatment

    Adequate access to medical providers able to prescribe curative direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) continues to be a barrier to reaching our HCV treatment goals, yet restrictions based on licensure remain. To address this barrier, we urge the State to expand the scope of practice for all nurse practitioners, regardless of certification, to prescribe these medications, limiting the need to refer patients out and potentially lose them to follow-up.

    Program Bill

[Read the full priorities document] →

Advocacy Opportunities

Advocacy Toolkits

Hep Free NYC supports a NY Hepatitis Telehealth Workgroup helping partners implement hepatitis B and C telehealth services. See past meeting notes.

Hepatitis Telemedicine Guides

Hep C Telehealth Toolkit: An Implementation Guide for Clinicians and Healthcare Agencies

Clinical Education Initiative.

Visit

Hep C Telemedicine Implementation Guide for Substance Use Treatment Programs

NYC Health Department and NASTAD, 2020.

PDF

Strategies for Provision of HIV, HCV, STI and Drug User Health Telemedicine Services in NYS

Clinical Education Initiative. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PDF

Presentations

Telemedicine to Increase Access to Buprenorphine and HCV Treatment

NYS Hepatitis C and Drug User Health Clinical Education Conference, September 2020. Panelists: Judy Griffin, MD; Anthony Martinez, MD; Dan Schatz, MD; and Andrew Talal, MD.

Slides

Rapid Implementation of Telemedicine for Hepatitis Care due to COVID

Su Wang, MD, MPH, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, NJ. April 2020.

PDF

Newsletter Archives

Upcoming Events

November 19, 2026

Steps to Building Provider Capacity for Hep C Treatment within a Community Health Center (NYS Health Dept)

The New York State Department of Health Office of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology is pleased to announce a hepatitis C webinar series for community health centers, including rural and federally qualified community health centers.

READ MORE

November 9, 2026

NYS Harm Reduction Association Conference

Join hundreds of service providers, frontline staff, program administrators, state agency personnel, advocates, and people with lived and living experience at the 2026 New York State Harm Reduction Association's (NYSHRA) Conference for two days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

READ MORE

October 29, 2026

Tools for Implementing Opt-Out Hep C Screening in Community Health Centers (NYS Health Dept)

The New York State Department of Health Office of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology is pleased to announce a hepatitis C webinar series for community health centers, including rural and federally qualified community health centers.

READ MORE

City Advocacy Priorities:

  1. Expand New York City Council’s Viral Hepatitis Initiative (VHI)

    The VHI, established in 2014, has provided a strong public health response to NYC’s hepatitis B and C epidemics. To adequately address NYC’s viral hepatitis epidemic and fully implement the plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030, the city must increase the $2.4 million allocated by the City Council to $5 million.

  2. Increase access to hepatitis C testing

    Purchase Xpert® point-of-care hepatitis C RNA tests to distribute citywide, with a focus on areas with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed hepatitis C.

  3. Promote awareness of hepatitis B and C testing, treatment, and prevention, and of the 2024 amendment to the NYS hepatitis C screening law

    Develop and disseminate public-facing social media marketing campaigns and health promotion materials.

  4. Fund additional patient navigators within the Check Hep B, Check Hep C, and Hep C Peer programs

    Provide funding to hire additional patient navigators within these three programs to help guide patients through testing and treatment.

  5. Support hepatitis B and C clinical education training

    Fund three agencies to deliver clinical education and training to community-based providers, health centers, faith-based organizations, substance use providers, and immigrant health organizations.

[Read the full priorities document] →

Advocacy Priorities State

  1. Increase hepatitis C elimination funding in the Medicaid Pharmacy Provision reappropriation and all hep C–related funding to the AIDS Institute

    HCV elimination efforts have remained flat-funded at only $5 million for a number of years. It is critical to sustain the existing HCV elimination funding included in the Medicaid Pharmacy Provision reappropriation and all hep C–related funding to the AIDS Institute, and to add an additional $5 million in baseline funding so the NYS DOH can more robustly implement the HCV elimination plan by supporting the priorities below.

    $10 million total

  2. Increase funding for patient navigation in traditional and non-traditional settings

    Patient navigators are essential advocates, shown to significantly increase linkage to care and curative treatment. They help individuals navigate often complex health care systems, address financial and logistical barriers, connect patients to community resources, and reduce stigma and disparities.

    $900,000

  3. Prioritize investment in syringe service programs and comprehensive harm reduction services

    Syringe service programs (SSPs) are a proven component of effective HCV prevention and care. They significantly reduce transmission and provide low-barrier access to testing and curative treatment, saving lives and avoidable health spending.

    $4.1 million

  4. Implement opt-out testing in NYS correctional facilities for individuals on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

    An estimated 30% of New Yorkers living with hepatitis C will spend at least part of the year in a correctional facility. Supporting innovative models of HCV testing and treatment in these settings offers an opportunity to accelerate elimination efforts, reduce community transmission, and lower health care costs.

    Program Bill

  5. Expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners to provide HCV care and treatment

    Adequate access to medical providers able to prescribe curative direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) continues to be a barrier to reaching our HCV treatment goals, yet restrictions based on licensure remain. To address this barrier, we urge the State to expand the scope of practice for all nurse practitioners, regardless of certification, to prescribe these medications, limiting the need to refer patients out and potentially lose them to follow-up.

    Program Bill

[Read the full priorities document] →

Advocacy Opportunities

Advocacy Toolkits

Hep Free NYC supports a NY Hepatitis Telehealth Workgroup helping partners implement hepatitis B and C telehealth services. See past meeting notes.

Hepatitis Telemedicine Guides

Hep C Telehealth Toolkit: An Implementation Guide for Clinicians and Healthcare Agencies

Clinical Education Initiative.

Visit

Hep C Telemedicine Implementation Guide for Substance Use Treatment Programs

NYC Health Department and NASTAD, 2020.

PDF

Strategies for Provision of HIV, HCV, STI and Drug User Health Telemedicine Services in NYS

Clinical Education Initiative. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PDF

Presentations

Telemedicine to Increase Access to Buprenorphine and HCV Treatment

NYS Hepatitis C and Drug User Health Clinical Education Conference, September 2020. Panelists: Judy Griffin, MD; Anthony Martinez, MD; Dan Schatz, MD; and Andrew Talal, MD.

Slides

Rapid Implementation of Telemedicine for Hepatitis Care due to COVID

Su Wang, MD, MPH, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, NJ. April 2020.

PDF

Newsletter Archives

Upcoming Events

November 19, 2026

Steps to Building Provider Capacity for Hep C Treatment within a Community Health Center (NYS Health Dept)

The New York State Department of Health Office of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology is pleased to announce a hepatitis C webinar series for community health centers, including rural and federally qualified community health centers.

READ MORE

November 9, 2026

NYS Harm Reduction Association Conference

Join hundreds of service providers, frontline staff, program administrators, state agency personnel, advocates, and people with lived and living experience at the 2026 New York State Harm Reduction Association's (NYSHRA) Conference for two days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

READ MORE

October 29, 2026

Tools for Implementing Opt-Out Hep C Screening in Community Health Centers (NYS Health Dept)

The New York State Department of Health Office of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology is pleased to announce a hepatitis C webinar series for community health centers, including rural and federally qualified community health centers.

READ MORE