Bruce Burkett, Executive Director, Founded MOHCA in 1999. Originally an all volunteer organization, MOHCA has grown from one support group to 5 support groups and collaborates with 8 treatment centers, 3 in the Boone Electric area, to expedite testing and access to medical care for persons affected.
Chronic HCV infection has become a critical, unrecognized health care problem, we have found that among people with risk factors, a positivity rate as high as 29% within the State of Missouri population.
National statistics indicate the average age of a person with HCV is 45-65 years old, however the average we found in Missouri is 27. This program is designed to reach those individuals who are not aware they are at risk for HCV.
So far individuals who are tested have been through word-of-mouth and follow up. MOHCA hopes to increase awareness of testing through a media program, the use of a billboard and 15 second Public Service Announcements on local and cable television.
MOHCA partners on both state and national level with agencies such as the Missouri State Department of Health, 46 MO County Health Departments, Phoenix Programs, Preferred Family Healthcare, Rain of Central Missouri, the American Liver Foundation, the National Center for Disease Control, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, the National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council, and the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnerships. Bruce serves as the President of the National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council, and is also a board member of both the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable and the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnerships.
MoHCA was founded in 1999 as a non-profit organization, 501 c(3), providing support and education to the Mid-Missouri public. From 1999 until April 2005, MoHCA was an all- volunteer organization. MoHCA started with one support group, which grew to five groups over several years. In addition to the support groups, a nationwide toll free hotline was started, offering education and support. In 2004 MoHCA collaborated with Rain of Central Missouri (RAIN)) to apply for a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The program was titled “HIV/HCV Early Intervention Program.” Rain was the fiscal agent and MoHCA carried out the programs for education and support. In July 2007, MoHCA became a contract agent for RAIN, taking over the prevention program. RAIN continued to provide the case management and medical care aspects of the program.
Testing for HCV continued to provide successful results in finding new cases of HCV. In 2005 MoHCA tested 351 people and found 107 new positives. In 2006, 986 people were tested finding 215 HCV positives. In 2007, 1335 people were tested and found 326 people were positive for Hepatitis C virus. This revealed a positivity rate of 24%. Out of the total 648 people who tested positive MoHCA/RAIN were able to provide treatment assistance for 188 uninsured patients.
In addition to the testing program, MoHCA provided education to 46 County Health Department’s staff annually. MoHCA provided education to over 4500 people in small group presentations. In collaboration with the Missouri State Department of Health, 46 county Health Departments, Phoenix Programs, Preferred Family Healthcare, Rain of Central Missouri, American Liver Foundation, locally, and nationally the Center for Disease Control, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council, and the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnerships. Bruce Burkett, founder and Executive Director serves as the President of the National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council, as a board member of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnerships
