Utah

Capacity Rubric

Total Grade: 34.5 / 55 points

State Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan Development

( 0 / 5 points )

In this section we assess whether a jurisdiction has drafted a publicly available viral hepatitis plan that is current and reflects the priorities outlined in the HHS Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan and the World Health Organization’s goals to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.

Does the state have a viral hepatitis elimination plan?¹	0 / 3 points
If yes, is there a commitment to publish progress reports on at least an annual basis?	0 / 1 point
If yes, are people with lived/living experience included in the development process?	0 / 1 point

¹ A ‘plan’ is defined herein as one that: (a) has goals aligned with the HHS Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan and the World Health Organization’s goals to eliminate hepatitis by 2030; (b) includes specific actions, activities, and commitments to achieve goals; (c) is an active plan covering the current year; and (d) is available to the public.

Comments:

The status of elimination planning efforts in Utah is unclear. The state should convene a group of multidisciplinary stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to guide efforts to improve its viral hepatitis strategies and outcomes. This process can help identify capacity needs, build collaborative partnerships to pool limited resources, and create targeted interventions to reduce viral hepatitis incidence.

Harm Reduction Laws

( 7 / 8.5 points )

The Harm Reduction Laws section analyzes laws jurisdictions have in place that support the implementation of harm reduction strategies proven to reduce rates of viral hepatitis transmission, such as syringe service programs.

Are syringe service programs (SSPs) legal?	3 / 3 points
Is there a state law expressly authorizing SSPs?	1 / 1 point
If yes, is it a needs-based law, or does it require a 1-for-1 item trade for needles and syringes? (Needs-based= 1 point; 1-for-1 requirement = 0 points)	1 / 1 point
Are there Good Samaritan Laws in place to protect persons who assist others that are experiencing a substance use-related medical emergency?	1 / 1 point
Are there laws in place to protect persons seeking medical assistance for a substance use-related medical emergency that they are experiencing?	0.5 / 0.5 points
Is possessing substance use/injection drug use (IDU) equipment (‘works’) legalized, decriminalized, or illegal? (Legalized = 2 point; decriminalized = 1 point; illegal = 0 points)	0 / 2 points
Where IDU equipment is illegal, is there an exemption for syringes received from an SSP?	0.5 / 0.5 points

Comments:

SSPs are legal in the state, they function on a needs-based model, and an exemption does exist for the possession of syringes obtained from SSPs. Needs-based SSP policies broaden the efficacy of these programs to reduce transmission of hepatitis, HIV, and other diseases. There are also Good Samaritan Laws in place to protect individuals from criminal prosecution if they call for medical assistance for others experiencing an overdose or for persons who call for self-assistance because they are (or believe they are) experiencing an overdose.

Budget Allocation

( 2.5 / 5.5 points )

How much and in what manner a jurisdiction allocates fiscal resources for its viral hepatitis elimination strategies is critical to providing the support needed to realize stated elimination goals.

If a viral hepatitis elimination plan has been drafted and been made available to the public, have funds been specifically allocated to implement the plan’s strategies?	0 / 2 points
Do the state budget allocations mention viral hepatitis?	1 / 1 point
Do the state budget allocations mention elimination?	0 / 1 point
Does the state corrections budget mention viral hepatitis?	1 / 1 point
If yes, does it specify hepatitis C treatment allocations?	0.5 / 0.5 points

Comments:

Although no allocation for hepatitis C treatment for the current year was found in the corrections budget, an ongoing settlement agreement has allocated funds from the previous year's budget going forward.

Improving Viral Hepatitis Prevention, Treatment, and Outcomes

( 20 / 31 points )

To improve prevention, treatment, and outcomes, jurisdictions must employ innovative and inclusive strategies that reflect best practice approaches and expand access to the health care interventions needed to diagnose and treat viral hepatitis.

Does the jurisdiction provide/distribute viral hepatitis educational information and materials geared towards the public?²	1 / 1 point
If yes, do they provide perinatal information/education for: HBV	1 / 1 point
HCV	1 / 1 point
Did the jurisdiction expand Medicaid?	3 / 3 points
Does the jurisdiction offer or recommend provider training to increase workforce capacity to treat more people with viral hepatitis?	3 / 3 points
If a plan has been drafted and made available to the public, does it include strategies to offer DAA treatment for HCV to all persons with a confirmed HCV diagnosis held in state corrections in accordance with the AASLD/IDSA treatment guidelines?	0 / 3 points
If no plan exists or state corrections are not mentioned in the state’s viral hepatitis plan, does a separate state-drafted guidance for the standard of care for HCV in state corrections exist – that was NOT drafted subsequent to viral hepatitis treatment access litigation brought against the jurisdiction – that provides DAA treatment for all persons with a confirmed HCV diagnosis held in state corrections in accordance with the AASLD/IDSA treatment guidelines?	0 / 2 points
If a separate standard also does not exist, has there been litigation within the jurisdiction or a region of the jurisdiction (e.g., city or county) that has prompted changes to be made regarding hepatitis screening and treatment within corrections facilities? (NOTE: not scored)	Yes
Does the jurisdiction utilize or provide support for (financial and/or in-kind) targeted interventions to expand access to viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment services to key populations (e.g., BIPOC communities, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs) disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis? (Such interventions include but are not limited to mobile outreach units, non-traditionally located/on-location services, and programs targeting specific racial or cultural communities)	3 / 3 points
If no, are there non-governmental programs/community organizations located within the jurisdiction that are providing the aforementioned interventions to the key outreach populations listed above (as well as others) that are receiving funding from the federal government (HRSA, SAMHSA or another agency), or some other source?	0 / 1 point
Does the jurisdiction provide linguistically diverse informational materials on viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and treatment?	0 / 2 points
If yes, list languages available (NOTE: not scored)	N/A
Is there an enduring collaborative network (i.e., task force, steering committee, etc.) within the state that is cross-cutting amongst state agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, and healthcare providers to plan and coordinate activities and leverage resources?	2 / 2 points
If yes, does the jurisdiction lead this collaboration?	0 / 1 point
If yes, are people with lived/living experience part of this collaboration?	0 / 1 point
Hepatitis C: State of Medicaid Access Grade³	6 / 10 points

² Jurisdictions can receive credit for this question for educational materials created by the state as well as for utilizing/distributing information such as the CDC’s “Know More Hepatitis” campaign.

³ To date, there is no grading system that assesses hepatitis B treatment access. The Hepatitis B Foundation published an analysis of health insurance plans in 14 states that show evidence of one or more discriminatory practices in accessing hepatitis B treatment. Additional research is needed to assess state barriers to hepatitis B treatment.

Complete list of state grades available at the State of Hep C website.

Comments:

In 2021, Utah opened a request for proposals to offer 10 grants for up to $350,000 each to enhance the capacity of community organizations to conduct hepatitis C (HCV) education, outreach, testing, and linkage to care activities in their local communities.

The University of Utah appears to offer HCV provider training through Project ECHO, however the program is not referenced on the state DOH website. The state should also consider including Hepatitis B Online and Hepatitis C Online as additional provider resources.

The state recently started the Utah Hepatitis Coalition. It is unclear whether the coalition is led by the state or whether people with lived experience are included.

Utah Medicaid still imposes liver damage, sobriety, and prescriber restrictions for many recipients in need of HCV treatment.

Improving Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Data Usage

( 5 / 5 points )

Publishing epidemiological data at consistent intervals allows researchers, medical practitioners, and individuals to evaluate current diagnosis rates, demographic information, and other statistics to assess progress towards elimination. In this section of the rubric, we measure jurisdictions’ data sharing transparency.

Has the state recently published a comprehensive viral hepatitis epidemiological report/profile (within the last two (2) years) that includes data on: HAV (1 point)	1 / 1 point
HBV (1 point)	1 / 1 point
HCV (1 point)	1 / 1 point
Does a jurisdiction have a public-facing website with regularly updated (within the last two (2) years) viral hepatitis epidemiological data included on it?	2 / 2 points

Updated July 12, 2022

Key Terms

AASLD:	American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
DAA:	Direct-Acting Antiviral Medications
IDSA:	Infectious Diseases Society of America
IDU:	Injection Drug Use
PWID:	People Who Inject Drugs
PWUD:	People Who Use Drugs
“Works”:	Drug use equipment, including, but not limited to, syringes, pipes, bongs, and roach clips

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