Mount Sinai focuses on HCV initiative with $1.9 million grant

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has received a federal grant for $1.9 million to apply toward Project INSPIRE NYC, an initiative aimed at treating additional people with hepatitis C virus in primary care settings, according to a news release.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Fund for Public Health, in collaboration with Icahn School of Medicine, received the grant from the CMS’ Health Care Innovation Awards program, the release from Mount Sinai said.

Project INSPIRE NYC was designed to better identify people with hepatitis C virus through multiple databases and community referrals as part of primary care, according to the release. The release said the program also will ensure patients with HCV receive the best treatment and counseling services, as well as more information on health-related risks.

“Building a better system to find and care for the many patients with chronic hepatitis C in our community is an urgent priority, and we are honored to be a part of it,” Ponni Perumalswami, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Hepatitis Outreach Network at the Icahn School of Medicine, said. “This is an exciting initiative spearheaded by the city’s health department that will lead to better health outcomes.”

Goals of Project INSPIRE NYC include: reducing the number of HCV-related complications; increasing screening for depression and alcohol abuse; reducing the number of hospitalizations; strengthening the management of behavior health problems; and increasing the number of patients initiating HCV therapy, the release said.