Capitol Hill Briefing on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C:  Links to other Drug Use and Health Reform

By Ann Mahony

Trust for America’s Health sponsored a hearing on Oct. 14, 2010 on: HBV and HCV: America’s Hidden Epidemics.  Because HBV and HCV are highly associated with other drug use, its relevance was underscored to people in the drug treatment field.  Among the recommendations proposed in the TFAH report include public education campaigns for those at high risk, expanding access to care including drug treatment, syringe exchange programs, and education about the dangers of sharing needles.  Another relevant recommendation is to make screening for Hepatitis B and C routine under health reform.

Link to a copy of TFAH’s report at:   http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/TFAH2010HepBCBrief09.pdf.

For copies of the presentation slides link to side bar on the right at:  http://healthyamericans.org/report/76/hepatitis-report.