Bipartisan Hepatitis C Legislation Reintroduced in Both Houses of Congress

Posted over at HepSlayer....Thought it was worth repeating...


Bipartisan Hepatitis C Legislation Reintroduced in Both Houses of Congress

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=258701

WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 30, 2007 -- The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act [SB-1445, HR-2552] has been reintroduced into both Houses of the 110th Congress by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY). The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act mandates a comprehensive federal hepatitis C program to include counseling and testing, early detection, surveillance, education, training, and research. Originally introduced but not voted upon in 2003, the reintroduction of The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act has been a bipartisan effort. The original cosponsors of the legislation are Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM).

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the United States. An estimated 5 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most common cause of chronic liver disease and adult liver transplantation in the U.S. Approximately 30,000 new HCV cases are reported each year. Hepatitis C currently kills an estimated 15,000 Americans annually, a number that is expected to triple by 2010 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increased testing and treatment will curb this dire prediction.

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Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors

The Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program (HCCAP), a national hepatitis C nonprofit organization, lauds the reintroduction stating that this legislation provides the necessary foundation for an effective federal response to the current hepatitis C crisis. HCCAP Program Director Lorren Sandt commented, "We are at a critical juncture in the hepatitis C epidemic. The hardest hit population is in the prime of their lives. It is essential to diagnose those infected with HCV as soon as possible to change the long-term effects of this disease on individuals and society. HCCAP congratulates and thanks the sponsors and cosponsors of this legislation for taking the lead to turn the tide on the hepatitis C crisis."

The timing of the reintroduction of The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act coincides with Hepatitis Awareness Month 2007. Events have been conducted across the United States throughout the month of May including Congressional briefings and awareness days in state capitals to inform public officials and raise awareness of the magnitude and severity of the hepatitis C crisis. The World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) spearheaded the global observance of World Digestive Health Day, Focus: Viral Hepatitis on May 29th. Events were hosted throughout the world to call attention to plight of the estimated 600 million people chronically infected with hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

About Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program

The Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program (HCCAP) is a division of the national nonprofit public charity, the Caring Ambassadors Program, Inc. HCCAP is committed to improving the health and longevity of those living with chronic hepatitis C through information, awareness, and public advocacy.

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for sharing this information and keeping us informed. Have a great day.

[Alady1620]

I can't help but wonder what they mean by 'surveillance.'

[illo]

Not a good word, is it?

[sailinlady]

Well at least they are trying to get the word out that HCV is, in fact, an epidemic. It seems people are less likely to be open about it than they are HIV, due to the nasty stigmatism we all know is attached to the disease.  What we need is public awareness.  Maybe this will help.

[friole]

sounds like we need to email our congress people on this one.  Good old Kay Baily Hutchinson comes thru.  Makes me proud to be a Texan!  I wish I could think it is more than window dressing.

Thanks, illo, ofr bringing this to my attention.

frijole

[EspritLibre1]

thanks... :)

[ladybug52]

Yeah Kay came thru! I am happily surprised. I always e-mail her and I got a recorded message inviting me to participate in a  conference call disussion one evening. I got the message about a week too late, but I always wondered if it was random selection, everyone was invited, or she knows I have hep c and wanted to know what I thought about her legislation! Maybe surveillance paid off:)
Bug

[illo]

Heck, we can all take the time to be here, I figure we can all take the time to write.  Here's a good link to get involved & write legislators on HCV action:

http://www.hepatitisactivist.org/

[orphanedhawk]

I was living in San Francisco when the AIDS epidemic began. AIDS was far from accepted. Many called it the Gay disease and thought the people who had it deserved it. The community became organized and with money and intelligence got the word out there with the help of Hollywood. If AIDS is no longer seen as the gay disease then HCV can lose the stigma of being seen as the druggie disease.  
   Thanks illo for all the great information you provide us with.

[sailinlady]

I was in S. Cal. then and remember it very well.  Majic Johnson played a huge part in public awareness and it not being a "gay disease".

[l-horn]

I'll have you know I never lingered in a dark alley.

[friole]

That's cool that Kay Bailey wanted your participation.  I went ahead and emailed her today.  I want her to know we are not all out and out drug addicts lingering in dark alleys.

frijole

[friole]

Well, I am not saying I have and not saying I haven't


Actually, my innards were pretty torn up at times on tX and there were a couple of time when I was still walking in the morning (first 6 months of tx I was still walking 3 miles a day -  before dawn) that I had to duck into an alley and you-know-what- (and if you don't , well, I have just turned this into a poop thread).   Sure was glad no cars came down those alleys!  Got to the point I had to carry my cell phone with me, just in case, so hubby could rescue me

frjiole