More than 2.4 million people in the United States are living with hepatitis C. In Louisiana, the burden is particularly severe: our state ranks among the highest for liver-related diseases and deaths.

Marginalized communities—including people who inject drugs or those who are experiencing homelessness or incarceration—are disproportionately affected by HCV. Far too many people lack access to timely diagnosis and treatment; left untreated, the consequences are severe: they can include: diabetes, kidney disease, liver cancer or liver damage.

At the Louisiana Department of Health, we are committed to eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat. Through a five-year elimination plan that concluded in 2025, we set out to treat 39,000 people enrolled in Medicaid and in the Department of Corrections. Thanks in part to strong provider engagement and Project ECHO, we exceeded that goal. Continuing to build knowledge and capacity among frontline health workers remains essential to reaching people in rural areas and other underserved communities.

Crucial to success in this space, ECHO* participants learn to compassionately address the stigma surrounding the virus and incorporate harm reduction strategies—including medication for opioid use disorder—into their care plans for patients.

In an environment of collaborative, ongoing learning—called “all-teach, all learn”—every month, clinicians can seek guidance from experts as well as their peers; share unique challenges; and refine their approach.

One provider recently shared how ECHO’s case-based learning gave them the confidence to initiate HCV treatment in their clinic, improving health care outcomes and reducing the number of patients with HCV in the community.

These stories reinforce why we need to expand our efforts. Join Louisiana in the fight to eliminate HCV: join an ECHO session or start your own ECHO Program today.