Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act (HR 3974)

Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act (HR 3974)

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C virus infection, to include the following:

• EDUCATION AND TRAINING – heightens awareness and enhances knowledge and understanding of hepatitis B and C among health care professionals and the public;

• HEPATITIS B and C DISEASE CONTROL – promotes and supports State, local, and tribal programs for voluntary hepatitis B & C testing, counseling, and referrals for medical management;

• SURVEILLANCE – promotes and supports establishment and maintenance of State chronic hepatitis B and C surveillance databases;

• IMMUNIZATION – expands the current vaccination programs (hepatitis A & B) to protect all susceptible adults, particularly those infected with HCV, high-prevalence ethnic populations, and other high risk groups, from the risks of acute and chronic hepatitis B infection and ensures all children continue to be covered by Vaccine for Children (VFC) funding;

• ADULT VIRAL HEPATITIS COORDINATORS – provides program funding for Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinators in State health departments to enhance the additional management, networking, and technical expertise needed to ensure successful integration of HBV and HCV prevention and control activities into existing public health programs;

• INTEGRATION WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS – integrates program elements of the Act into existing State, local, and tribal clinical and public health programs, where appropriate;

• UNDERSERVED AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED POPULATIONS – implements provisions of the Act so as to promote expanded resources for persons with limited access to health education, testing and health care services and groups that may be disproportionately affected by HBV and HCV;

• MEDICAL REFERRAL – supports referral of persons infected with or at risk for HBV and HCV for drug or alcohol abuse treatment, where appropriate, and on for ongoing medical management of HBV and HCV; and,

• RESEARCH ─ supports research through National Institutes of Health (NIH) on best practices, populations affected, liver cancer, non-invasive testing, and treatment.