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Consensus recommendations |
Grade |
|
HCV treatment uptake in Australia must be substantially increased to limit HCV-related liver disease and deaths and to reduce ongoing transmission of HCV. This will require new models of care. |
A1 |
|
Tertiary care centres must continue to have a major role in managing people with HCV who have cirrhosis or complex care needs. |
A1 |
|
GP-led HCV care should be a major driver of increased HCV treatment uptake. GPs and other primary care physicians who are experienced in the treatment of HCV can prescribe HCV medicines. Those who are not experienced in the treatment of HCV should provide treatment in consultation with an experienced specialist. |
B2 |
|
For GPs and other primary care physicians, “experienced” should include all practitioners who have previously been accredited as prescribers for HCV medicines, as well as interested practitioners who have participated in a formal education session and completed treatments in consultation with an experienced specialist. |
B2 |
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Hepatology advanced practice nurses linked to specialist care centres are a safe and effective way of increasing HCV treatment capacity in a range of health care environments and should have a critical role in the expansion of treatment uptake. |
B1 |
|
Authorised nurse practitioners experienced in the treatment of chronic HCV can prescribe HCV medicines, and this will increase timely, affordable and equitable access to treatment in Australia. |
B2 |
|
Specific models of care for high-prevalence but under-served populations (PWID, including those attending primary health care services and opioid substitution treatment centres; prisoners; people with mental illness; rural and remote populations; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and migrant communities) must be developed to reduce barriers to treatment and increase HCV treatment uptake. |
B1 |