Call to Action
NVHR National Hepatitis Elimination Strategy: Eliminate
Hepatitis: A Call to Action The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable has spent
more than two years developing and debating the best way to prevent unnecessary
suffering and death caused by viral hepatitis. And now, with our action plan
in place, we need your help. Proposal for action builds on the strengths and
successes of our collective membership and this country’s existing healthcare
system. Read the Report. 
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Policy Priorities
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Build the Capacity to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis
- NVHR advocates for increased
funding to the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) to at least
$50 million for the development of an effective public health infrastructure
for viral hepatitis prevention. DVH is funded at $17.6 million and
states receive an average of $90,000, which is woefully inadequate
for integration of viral hepatitis prevention messages into existing
health program. There is no funding for community based organizations
to conduct education or other interventions to limit the spread of viral
hepatitis.
- A
chronic hepatitis B and C surveillance system must be implemented
to monitor disease incidence, prevalence and trends in order to enable
effective targeting of prevention messages.
- NVHR advocates for the appointment
of a position in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
to coordinate an intra-agency response to viral hepatitis.
- NVHR supports
harm reduction principles and practices and advocates for lifting
the federal ban on syringe exchange funding as an important step to viral
hepatitis prevention.
Vaccinate America
- NVHR advocates for dedicated federal funding to establish
and manage an adult viral hepatitis vaccination program to prevent
hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Counsel, Test and Refer Persons at Risk
- NVHR advocates for federal funding
to provide core public health services for the 4.5 million Americans
infected with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus.
- Medical providers
must be educated on the importance of vaccination and screening and
best practices for the delivery of care for persons with viral hepatitis.
Care for Persons with Chronic Hepatitis
- NVHR advocates for a health care
reform package that addresses the needs of persons living with chronic
viral hepatitis to include:
- Expanding Medicaid for all low-income
people, including childless adults, by eliminating current requirements
that tie Medicaid to disability
- Including a strong public plan option
to help provide affordable access to comprehensive health care for
people living with viral hepatitis.
- Care to include comprehensive prevention
services, testing, vaccination, and patient education.
Research
- NVHR advocates for funding to research improved treatment for viral
hepatitis and for the development of a vaccine for hepatitis C.
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