One of the leading causes of mortality in the Kansas Department of Corrections, as in many systems, is liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. While screening and treating hepatitis C, the Kansas team began discovering patients with undiagnosed hepatitis B. This session describes the steps taken to develop a screening program specifically for hepatitis B. Since treatment is indefinite, treatment costs increase exponentially as patients are added to the program. Decisions to treat included consideration of likely benefit to the patient, as not all forms of HBV are immediately harmful to the individual. The session includes a discussion of instituting HBV vaccination and finding sources of financial support.

Educational Objectives

• Review screening, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment for hepatitis B
• Discuss challenges and program development for a new HBV screening program
• Explain new corrections-specific CDC guidelines that recommend screening all residents for hepatitis B

Level: Intermediate

Sponsored by an independent educational grant from Gilead Sciences