Qualitative study outlines strategies promoting linkage to care in homeless and marginally housed patients with hepatitis C

Context Directacting antiviral medications (DAAs) have revolutionised the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV), but access to HCV care remains a problem for homeless and marginally housed (HAMH) individuals who are disproportionately infected by HCV. Many HAMH individuals may not be involved in the traditional health care model, so provider requirements, insurance restrictions and psychosocial barriers may prevent access to HCV treatment. When HAMH individuals with HCV are treated, their cure rate with antiviral therapy is similar to that of the general population. 2 In 2016, the Veteran Affairs (VA) health system launched a widespread effort to provide DAAs to veterans with HCV, which has provided the opportunity for the authors of this study to describe the strategies used to engage HAMH individuals with HCV.