September 2004
The purpose of this update is to keep NVHR member organizations informed of progress towards the NVHR goals for the year and to let everyone know of other developments affecting the NVHR.
Progress Report on the National Hepatitis Plan:
We are pleased to report excellent progress in writing the National
Plan. Alexandra Levitt, our designated writer, states that drafts
of three chapters (vaccines, research, and prevention) have been completed
and are being reviewed by Hal Margolis and his team. We had hoped
that this process would be farther along but travel schedules and
other competing priorities have slowed progress just a bit.
- The Outreach/Education Chapter is in the hands of the final review team and will be sent to the Board of Directors’ Plan subcommittee for final review before sending it to members of the Outreach Education Workgroup for comment.
- The section on refugee/immigrant vaccine issues in the Vaccine Chapter is being revised after receiving input from Susan Maloney and Michelle Weinberg of CDC.
- Outlines have been prepared on the remaining two chapters, Treatment/Care and Policy, and materials have been gathered to inform (not sure what this means, but it seems like something is missing after “inform”, or maybe the word “inform” needs to be changed) the content.
If all goes as planned, members of the workgroups will soon be seeing these chapters.
Policy Positions:
Since the last Update the NVHR has published a policy position statement
(PPS) recommending increased funding for Immunizations under the PHS
317 Program. A copy of the position can be viewed on the NVHR web
site at www.nvhr.org/news/index.htm. The Executive Committee has forwarded
to the Board of Directors for final approval a policy position statement
which focuses on NVHR’s rejection of the US Preventive Services
Task Force Recommendations on Hepatitis C Screening. In addition,
the Executive Committee is reviewing a proposal supporting increased
funding for research on hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Changes in Membership:
Dick Conlon has contacted all those who registered at the national
meeting in an effort to refine the membership directory. He found
that several e-mail addresses were incorrect and he is working to
make corrections to complete a 2004 directory.
Since Hal Margolis retired as Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis at CDC, he is no longer a member of the Board of Directors. He is continuing, however, as an unpaid consultant to the NVHR.
National Meeting:
The Board of Directors has appointed a subcommittee to begin looking
into dates and logistics for a National Meeting. The initial projection
is that this meeting will convene in February or March 2005.
Addressing Coverage and Reimbursement for Prevention,
Detection and Medical Management of Viral Hepatitis in the U.S.:
This project, mentioned in the last Update, has progressed to the
point that a formal, four-phase plan has been developed. Among other
things, the plan calls for research by health economists to review the
literature and identify the levels of coverage for both the private
and public sectors. It also proposes the creation of an Advisory Panel
to review those findings and recommend best use of the data. The Plan
also suggests that a NVHR White Paper be written and distributed widely
as an educational and training device for private practitioners, care
givers, and public health experts. All aspects of this project will
require additional sponsorship. The Board of Directors has given the
go-ahead to launch fund raising for this project. If funded, the findings
from the research, the recommendations of the Advisory Panel, and the
white paper will be shared with the full NVHR membership at the general
meeting.
Funding:
Thanks to Gilead for a generous grant of $100,000 to the NVHR. These
funds bring the total contributions for 2004 to $293,000 thus assuring
that NVHR can finish the work on the National Hepatitis Plan as scheduled.
Dick Conlon
Administrator
NVHR
Email: rconlon@nvhr.org
September 2004
