Improving Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Screening Practices in the Managed Care Setting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) has been involved in a program evaluation of HCV screening strategies in the Bronx in collaboration with Montefiore Medical Center and Boston University. This project will provide DVH with critical information on the effect of improving existing risk-based screening strategies as well as the potential added benefit of routine screening among persons born in the years 1945-1964 among an at-risk, urban population. This patient population also has a higher anti-HCV prevalence, higher levels of unemployment, and lower levels of insurance coverage as compared with the general United States insured population. The primary care physicians who serve these patients may also be more likely to offer screening currently as compared with "an average" PCP working in an area of lower risk or perceived risk. (1) To examine HCV screening of Kaiser Permanente Georgia (KPGA) adult members with a retrospective medical records review from 2000 through 2007, both annually and across subgroups of these members defined by demographic characteristics and by factors that increase risk of HCV. (2) To assess the effect of targeted HCV risk and age-based screening criteria and practices on detection rates of chronic HCV infection with an available electronic reminder (a 'Best Practices Alert') that can notify physicians about a medical action to be recommended to be performed during the clinical visit. (3) To examine hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among populations at risk for chronic hepatitis B and to examine hepatitis B vaccination rates among SEKP adult patients with a retrospective medical records review from 2000 through 2007; this will provide a comparison practices group for the HCV screening practices quality enhancement project. The Government intends to procure from only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Kaiser Permanente Georgia has the proprietary patient information. This is not a request for competitive proposals, nor is a solicitation available. Any firm that believes it can furnish the items described above is encouraged to give written notification to the Contracting Officer within 15 days of the date of this synopsis. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the above requirements. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action, based on responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.