Getting tested for hepatitis C is the first step toward a cure — and in Eastern Kentucky, it is more affordable and accessible than most people realize. Many people put off testing because they assume it will be expensive or hard to arrange, but low-cost testing is available across the region, most insurance and Kentucky Medicaid cover it, and a positive result today can lead to a full cure in a matter of months. At Fresh Start Health, we make testing simple and confidential — and because we handle both testing and treatment under one roof, you never have to navigate it alone.
Why get tested for hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is often called a “silent” infection because most people have no symptoms for years — sometimes decades. During that time, the virus can quietly damage the liver, leading to scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, or liver cancer. The good news is that hepatitis C is now curable in most people with a short course of daily pills, usually taken for 8 to 12 weeks. But you cannot treat what you have not found. The CDC recommends that all adults get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime, and more often if you have risk factors such as past or current injection drug use, a blood transfusion before 1992, or a mother who had hepatitis C.
Where to get hepatitis C testing in Eastern Kentucky
You have several options across the region. Fresh Start Health is the most direct path if you want testing and treatment in one place, and your local health department is another option. Because policies and costs vary, we recommend calling ahead to confirm what a given site offers and what it will cost you.
- Fresh Start Health clinics — We offer hepatitis C testing at our four Eastern Kentucky locations in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg. We accept Kentucky Medicaid, Medicare, and most commercial insurance plans. If your test is positive, we can begin treatment right away — no need to be referred somewhere else.
- Gateway District Health Department (Rowan County, Morehead) — Provides HCV antibody testing for people at risk. Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and private payment are accepted; call (606) 784-8954 to confirm cost and schedule.
- Lewis County Health Department (Vanceburg) — Offers hepatitis C testing along with HIV and other communicable disease services. Call (606) 796-2632 to confirm availability and cost.
- Ashland-Boyd County Health Department (Ashland) — Offers hepatitis C testing among its communicable disease services. Call (606) 324-7181 to confirm cost and hours.
- Your county health department — Every county health department in Kentucky also offers free, confidential HIV testing, which is often done at the same visit. Ask your local department what hepatitis C testing they provide and what it costs.
Start with Fresh Start — testing and treatment in one place
Here is the advantage of testing with us first: at a health department, a positive hepatitis C result means you will need a referral somewhere else to actually get treated. At Fresh Start Health, there is no gap. We can test you, confirm the result, and move you straight into a treatment plan — including through telehealth if that is easier for you. That means fewer appointments, less waiting, and a faster path from “I might have hepatitis C” to “I’m cured.”
What the testing process looks like
Testing for hepatitis C usually happens in two quick steps. First is an antibody test, a simple blood test (sometimes a rapid finger-stick) that shows whether you have ever been exposed to the virus. If that comes back positive, a second test called an RNA test confirms whether the virus is still active in your body and needs treatment. Both can be done through Fresh Start, and we walk you through every result so you always know what it means and what comes next.
Positive result? Treatment is closer than you think
A positive hepatitis C test is not the frightening news it once was. Modern treatment cures more than 95% of people, is typically covered by Kentucky Medicaid and most insurance, and involves just one or two pills a day with very few side effects. Because Fresh Start offers both testing and treatment, we can move you straight from your result to a treatment plan without sending you elsewhere.
Your privacy is protected
Everything about your testing and treatment at Fresh Start Health is confidential and protected by federal privacy law. Whether you come in to a clinic or connect with us by telehealth, your results and your care stay private.
Hepatitis C testing: frequently asked questions
Where can I get a free hepatitis C test in Kentucky?
You can get a free or low-cost hepatitis C test in Kentucky at your local health department, many community clinics, and Fresh Start Health’s four Eastern Kentucky locations in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg. Testing is confidential, and if your result is positive, treatment can start in the same place.
Can I test myself for hep C at home?
Yes. FDA-authorized at-home hepatitis C tests let you collect a finger-stick blood sample and mail it to a lab. A positive antibody result still needs a confirmatory RNA blood test, so Fresh Start Health recommends following up with a clinic that can confirm the result and begin treatment right away.
Get tested today
Do not let uncertainty about cost or convenience keep you from knowing your status. Affordable hepatitis C testing is available right here in Eastern Kentucky, most insurance and Medicaid cover it, and a cure is within reach. To schedule a test or ask a question, call us or use our chat function — our team at Fresh Start Health in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg is ready to help you take the first step. Learn more about hepatitis C testing and treatment at Fresh Start Health.