HHS Releases 2023 Viral Hepatitis Progress Report

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the second progress report on the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan 2021-2025. Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2021 surveillance data, the 2023 Progress Report details efforts made in the past year towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Key federal achievements in Fiscal Year 2023 include:

• Advanced development of a hepatitis C vaccine candidate
• Advanced development of rapid point-of-care hepatitis C diagnostics
• Supported expansion of viral hepatitis services in syringe services programs
• Updated hepatitis B screening recommendations 

Despite progress in reducing acute hepatitis B infections and increasing hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns, the report also highlights opportunities to improve efforts in reducing acute hepatitis C infections and hepatitis B-related deaths, especially among vulnerable populations.

To address these challenges and gather feedback on progress toward elimination goals, HHS hosted a public webinar titled Advancing Viral Hepatitis Elimination: Progress, Challenges, and Future Strategies. The webinar provided an overview of the 2023 Viral Hepatitis Progress Report and offered participants an opportunity to share their insights. Participants emphasized the need for:

• Eliminating prior authorization for hepatitis B and C medications
• Integrating viral hepatitis services into substance use treatment programs
• Developing hepatitis B point-of-care diagnostics
• Increasing funding for patient navigators and harm reduction programs

The 2023 Viral Hepatitis Progress Report highlights significant progress made but also underscores the significant challenges that remain. To help us achieve our goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030, we encourage you to review the report and identify areas where we can improve our efforts. If you are part of a new, newly expanded, or established viral hepatitis elimination effort, email us at OIDPviralhepatitis@hhs.gov and let us know if you’d like to be added to our Hepatitis Elimination in Action Map.

Moving forward, HHS will begin developing the next Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan 2026-2030 this year and will continue to welcome public input to shape its direction. To learn more about the progress made, challenges faced, and recommendations for the future, download the full 2023 Progress Report.