Dual-eligibility and Medicaid beneficiaries with hepatitis C are experiencing significant delays in their start of care despite receiving recommendations to start treatment immediately after testing, according to an HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) report published on Nov. 2, 2026. 
 
Only 23% of Medicaid beneficiaries received treatment within six months of being tested for hepatitis C, the report authors noted. Treatment rates were lower for other populations, with 14% of dual-eligibility beneficiaries and 12% of older adults receiving treatment within six months. 
 
For beneficiaries treated within six months, the OIG report notes that care took an average of seven weeks to begin. 
 
OIG recommended that CMS take additional, targeted steps like developing a new alternative payment model and analyzing hepatitis C treatment rates among the entire Medicare population.