Hepatitis C Support Group

DS members, I am asking for everyones assistance in helping those that are trying to help us. Please forward this information to everyone you know who can participate in the signing of a letter to Bush for money to help us. Please ACT NOW before our voices will be silenced forever. wORD DOC available at my email address wildkat608@aol.com
Thank you for your participation in this major issue. OUR LIVES>
Hepatitis C Advocates United!



Just a quick reminder that you have until COB tomorrow to sign onto the HCAP OMB letter on FY2009 funding. The attached letter has the signatories that have contacted me thus far. If you have sent me an email signing on and I have not responded that I received it or you don’t see your organization listed, please send it again to lhanen@nastad.org. I’m finding many emails get stuck in the spam filter.



Thanks.



-Laura



Laura Hanen, Director of Government Relations

National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors

444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 339, Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 434-8091 Fax: (202) 434-8092

lhanen@NASTAD.org www.NASTAD.org



"Bridging Science, Policy, and Public Health"

HERE IS THE LETTER,




December 18, 2007



Mr. Jim Nussle

Director

Office of Management and Budget

Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 252

725 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20503



Dear Mr. Nussle:



On behalf of the undersigned organizations we are writing to urge you to include increased funding for federal programs to address the viral hepatitis C (HCV) epidemic in the President’s FY2009 budget proposal. To help ensure that all Americans are protected against HCV infection, we urgently request increased federal resources for hepatitis C prevention, medical management, treatment and research.



As you finalize the President’s budget proposal for FY2009, we ask that you consider the following critical funding needs to appropriately address the HCV epidemic:

Include $50 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH);
Continue $20 million for hepatitis B vaccination through the Section 317 Public Health Grant Program;
Continue funding commitment for Community Health Centers;
Increase funding for the Ryan White Program to support additional case management, provider education and the coverage of HCV drug therapies; and
Increase funding for the National Institutes of Health to support their Action Plan for Liver Disease Research.


Approximately 6.25 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic viral hepatitis is now one of the leading killers of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, chronic viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer, now among the top 10 killers of Americans over the age of 25 years. Overall, the death rate for HCV-related deaths in the U.S. is expected to triple by 2019.

It is critical that Americans know whether they are hepatitis C-infected in order to mitigate disease burden and to prevent transmission. These include simple steps like abstaining from alcohol use, exercising and maintaining a healthy diet. There are effective pharmaceutical treatment options available as well.



Prevention
HCAP requests a minimum increase of $50 million in FY2009 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) to enable state and local health departments to provide basic core public health services. DVH currently receives $17.6 million to address hepatitis C, of which approximately $5.2 million is used to fund the adult viral hepatitis coordinator program. This program provides an average award to states of $90,000 to support a coordinator, who is responsible for increasing hepatitis awareness and education and working with other programs to integrate hepatitis services into existing public health settings. The coordinator position receives precious little above personnel costs, leaving little to no money for the provision of public health services such as public education and access to prevention services such as hepatitis counseling, testing, and hepatitis A and B vaccine. In addition, there are no funds for surveillance of chronic viral hepatitis, which would allow states to better target their limited resources. Simply put, in the absence of an HCV vaccine the government can invest in prevention now or wait until public systems are overwhelmed by the costs of chronic liver disease, including liver transplantation.



The greatest remaining challenge for hepatitis A and B prevention is the vaccination of high-risk adults. High-risk adults account for more than 75 percent of all new cases of hepatitis B infection each year and annually result in an estimated $658 million in medical costs and lost wages. In FY2007, CDC allowed states to use $20 million of 317 Vaccine funds to vaccinate high risk adults for hepatitis B. States are integrating vaccination into service programs for persons with risk factors for infection (e.g., STD clinics, HIV counseling and testing sites, correctional facilities and drug treatment clinics). By targeting high-risk adults, including those with hepatitis C, for vaccination, the gap between children and adults who have not benefited from routine childhood immunization programs can be bridged. HCAP requests a continuation of $20 million in FY2009 for hepatitis B vaccination.



Treatment
Access to available treatments and treatment support services are critical to combat co-infection morbidity. While there are no dedicated funding streams for medical management and treatment of hepatitis C, low-income patients can and do seek services at Community Health Centers (CHCs). HCAP supports your continued commitment to increasing resources for CHCs.



Many low-income individuals co-infected with HCV and HIV can obtain services through the Ryan White Programs and because of that, HCAP urges you to provide increased Ryan White resources. Only half the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) are able to provide HCV and HIV treatments to co-infected clients. Increased resources are also needed to improve provider education on HCV medical management and treatment, to cover additional case management for patients undergoing treatment and to allow more states to add HCV therapies and HCV viral load tests to their ADAP formularies.



Research
Finally, research is needed to increase understanding of the pathogenesis of hepatitis C, improve HCV treatments that are currently difficult to tolerate, develop clinical strategies to slow the progression of liver disease among persons living with HCV, and develop a vaccine to prevent HCV infection. The Liver Disease Branch, located within the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has developed an Action Plan for Liver Disease Research. HCAP requests full funding for NIH to support the recommendations and action steps outlined in this Action Plan for Liver Disease Research.



A strong public health response is needed to meet the challenges of this infectious disease impacting over four million Americans. We welcome the opportunity to work with you and your staff on this important issue. Please contact Laura Hanen at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors at 202.434.8091 if you have any questions or need additional information.



Sincerely,



LIST IN FORMATION



National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors





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Posted on 12/20/07, 01:12 pm