WASHINGTON, May 23, 2003--Senators Kay
Bailey Hutchison and Edward Kennedy today filed
The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention
Act (S-1143), announced the National Hepatitis C
Advocacy Council (NHCAC). This is the
first federal response to the hepatitis C
epidemic, the most common blood-borne viral
infection in the United States. An estimated four
million Americans are currently infected with the
hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV yearly costs are
already at an alarming $15 billion dollars. That
figure is expected to skyrocket to $26 billion by
2021.
Hepatitis C threatens the health of millions of
Americans. NHCAC has worked to educate federal and
state governments about the seriousness and
magnitude of the hepatitis C epidemic.
Approximately 85 percent of those who contract HCV
remain infected for life, and an estimated 15,000
die each year. The annual death toll is expected
to triple by 2010. There is currently no vaccine
to prevent HCV infection.
The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention
Act is groundbreaking legislation. It will
establish a comprehensive program for HCV public
awareness campaigns, screening and counseling,
early detection, professional education, and
research. The program will be administered by the
Department of Health and Human Services. State and
local hepatitis C agencies will be supported to
implement program activities.
The National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council is
comprised of 22 hepatitis C groups from across the
United States. NHCAC President Lorren Sandt
commented: "This is a major step in achieving a
key goal of NHCAC: increasing financial and
infrastructure support for the delivery of
hepatitis C prevention, education, and patient
care services at a level commensurate with the
impact of this disease. Chronic hepatitis C is
completely preventable with sound public health
policy in place."
NHCAC Government Affairs Chairperson Sharon
Phillips added: "For the first time, we have a
bill that will work for the millions of infected
Americans. We congratulate Senators Hutchison and
Kennedy for taking action now with S-1143 and
providing the resources necessary to address this
previously unfunded epidemic."
Cosponsors of this bipartisan bill include
Senators Daschle (D-SD), Biden (D-DE), Smith,
(R-OR), Johnson, (D-SD), Bingaman (D-NM), Breaux
(D-LA), Campbell (R-CO), Clinton (D-NY), Cornyn
(R-TX), Dodd (D-CT), Jeffords (I-VT), and Schumer
(D-NY). A companion bill will be introduced in the
House in the next few weeks. CONTACT: National
Hepatitis C Advocacy Council
Lorren Sandt, 877/737-4372
Andi Thomas, 954/931-8463
Sharon Phillips, 903/235-0408
