SAMHSA Awards $98M for Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $98 million for a Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot on September 24, 2025. The funding supports efforts to eliminate hepatitis C, which disproportionately affects individuals with substance use disorders who are frequently enrolled in Medicaid managed care behavioral health programs. Medicaid managed care organizations with behavioral health carve-ins or specialty behavioral health contracts may see increased screening and treatment activity for hepatitis C among their members. The initiative reflects federal prioritization of addressing co-occurring conditions in populations with substance use disorders.
Medicaid MCOs covering behavioral health services will likely experience higher hepatitis C screening and treatment utilization, requiring care coordination between behavioral health and infectious disease providers and potential impacts on medical loss ratios.