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Issue # 82   

November 2014
In This Issue
Support Groups
New HCV Treatment
Accessing Treatment
Financial Resources for HCV Treatment
Articles of Interest
Upcoming Events
Desserts & Delights Photos
Clinical Trials
HCV Patient Survey
Desserts & Delights Sponsors
Quick Links

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Colorado Hepatitis C Support Groups

 

For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C.  Free and confidential monthly meetings.  New members always welcome.

 

Metro-Denver

 

 
Downtown Denver
(Canceled
until further notice)

  
Englewood
Englewood Library
1000 Englewood Pkwy.
Last Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm

Beverly: (720) 231-2264

  
Lakewood
Shepherd of the Hills Church
11500 W. 20th
2nd Wednesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Betsy: (303) 940-4901
    

 

Statewide

Boulder

YWCA
2222 14th St.
Main Floor Mtg. Rm.
2nd Wednesday
6 - 7:30 pm
Debbie: (303) 817-4938

 

Fort Collins
Poudre Valley Health Systems
2121 E. Harmony
3rd Floor
Last Wednesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Jerry: (970) 214-2912

 

For information regarding support groups in other states, please call our HelpLine at 800-522-HEPC (4372) 

 Dear Friend,


  Welcome to the November 2014 edition of
Connections!  
                     orange-tree-sm.jpg  
 

New Treatment Approved by the FDA for HCV Genotype 1 Without Interferon or Ribavirin  

medical_people.jpg The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment in October for patients with a genotype 1 hepatitis C infection with or without cirrhosis.  Clinical trial results showed rates of success from 94 to 99 percent.  Success is determined by a non-detectable viral load 12 weeks post treatment (or SVR).

The new treatment does not include interferon or ribavirin.  It's a once-a-day pill that includes two medications- sofosbuvir and ledipasvir.  Depending on the stage of liver disease, a patient may take the pill for 8, 12, or 24 weeks.  The most commonly reported side effects by patients in clinical trials were fatigue and headache.  Read more about the new treatment here. 
Guidance on Accessing Treatment
doctors-nurses.jpg Are you thinking about and interested in treatment for your chronic hepatitis C infection?  Here are a few tips on getting started and questions to ask your gastroenterologist.

Gastroenterologists are the medical specialists that help patients with infections that affect the liver.  If you do not have a gastroenterologist, ask your primary care physician for a list of referrals to gastroenterologists. Here is a fact sheet on Choosing Medical Provider from HCV Advocate.
    • Call your insurance company to find out which of the gastroenterologists are in your network (the customer service phone number is often found on the back of your insurance card) 
    • Call the office of the in-network gastroenterologists and ask if the physician has experience with patients with hepatitis C
    • Set up an appointment with a gastroenterologist that has experience with patients with hepatitis C
At your first appointment, ask:
    • What is my genotype?
    • What is my fibrosis score?  Do I have cirrhosis?

Your physician may have you do lab work to determine the answers to the above questions and ask that you return for a second visit when the results are ready.

 

At your second appointment, ask: 

    • Please describe my fibrosis score to me.  Do I have cirrhosis?
    • What medication will you be prescribing for my hepatitis C infection?

Here is a fact sheet on Maximizing your Medical Appointments from HCV Advocate.  

 

If your physician says you do not need treatment or are not eligible for treatment, ask him or her to write down the reason for not prescribing a treatment plan.  We recommend you call our HelpLine at 1-800-522-HEPC(4372) to discuss the reason for your physician not prescribing at this point. 

 

If your physician provides you with a prescription, the next step will be to determine your total out-of-pocket cost of treatment.  This involves contacting your insurance company and asking them if you have access to a specialty pharmacy as a benefit in your insurance plan.  If you do have this benefit, take your prescription to the specialty pharmacy.  Most specialty pharmacies have someone on staff that will work with your insurance company to determine your total cost for treatment and help you apply for financial assistance through foundations and pharmaceutical companies.

 

There are many other resources available if you do not have a specialty pharmacy or need assistance at any point in the process of accessing treatment.  We recommend that you call our HelpLine at 1-800-522-HEPC(4372) and we'll work with you to determine and complete your next steps in the process to continue moving forward.  

 

You can call us at any point, including if you need assistance applying for insurance!  

 

Hep C Connection HelpLine

1-800-522-HEPC(4372) 

Monday - Friday

10:00 am - 6:00 pm MT 

Financial Resources 

Looking for financial resources?  Here are two foundations offering financial support to eligible patients that have been prescribed medication for their hepatitis C infection -  

  

Patient Advocate Foundation
Maximum Award Level: $7,500 per year
Website: www.copays.org/diseases/hepatitis-c
Phone Number: (866) 512-3861  

Patient Access Network 
Maximum Award Level: $10,000 Per Year 
Website: http://www.panfoundation.org/hepatitis-c   
Phone Number: (866) 316-PANF (7263)  

Articles of Interest 

How Gilead Sciences Inc. Isn't Gouging Hepatitis C Patients, in 1 Simple Infographic
10/26/2014 / The Motley Fool / Brian Orelli
The wholesale prices of the new treatments for hepatitis C have been in the media because of their high cost.  Gilead Sciences analyzed the wholesale price of each treatment option to describe the difference in prices of previous treatment options compared to the new regimens.  View the comparison in the full article. 

HCV Detected Post-Transplant, Despite Negative NAT Pre-Transplant
10/10/2014 / Healio / HCV Next
Several individuals that received an organ transplant from the same donor tested positive for hepatitis C within a few months after the transplant surgery took place.  After an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was determined that the donor had been recently infected with hepatitis C but, the serum was undetectable for hepatitis C virus RNA at the time of organ procurement.  This conclusion emphasizes the importance of educating organ recipients on the risk for infection associated with organ transplant surgery and the need for post-transplant blood borne pathogen screening.  Read the full article here.

Upcoming Outreach Events 

  Monday, Nov 17 

11:00 am - 3:00 pm  

 

Project Homeless Connect

Colorado Convention Center


Hep C Connection will offer free hepatitis C testing and education at the 2014 Project Homeless Connect.  Project Homeless Connect is a one day, free event where individuals and families experiencing homelessness can access services and resources including medical care, Homeless Court, benefit assistance, employment services, haircuts, clothing and other community resources.   
Live from Denver it's Desserts & Delights 
Thank you to all of the sponsors, guests, and volunteers that made Live from Denver, it's Desserts & Delights a huge success!  Here are a few pictures from the event.  View more pictures on Hep C Connection's Facebook page.

Guests Bidding on the Array of Unique and Fun Silent Auction Items
Randy Rimer from AbbVie with Andres Guerrero, Colorado Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator
Avella Guests Having Fun and Taking a Picture at the TapSnap Photo Booth

Featured HCV Clinical Trials

To find clinical trials in your city, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov or call us at 1-800-522-HEPC and we can walk you through the website.

 

If you are in the metro-Denver area, 

 

South Denver Gastroenterology, PC invites you to call Kelly Braun, Clinical Research Coordinator, at 303-406-4288 if you're interested in future studies.  

  

University of Colorado Hospital invites you to call (303) 724-1876 if you are interested in participating in a clinical trial at the Hospital.

HCV Survey for Baby Boomers 

Born between 1945-1965? Diagnosed with hepatitis C and uncertain? Research participants wanted to answer this survey.    

Thank you Titanium, Platinum, and Gold Sponsors of Live from Denver, it's Desserts & Delights!

Titanium

Platinum





Gold