In the United States
The Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Prevention and Control Act of 2009
On October 29th, 2009, Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA), Chariman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced the bi-partisan Viral Hepatitis and Lvier Cancer Prevention and Control Act of 2009, the first hepatitis-focused bill to ever specifically address a national hepatitis B and C epidemic impacting America. Incorporating the monitoring, testing and research and education provisions contained in the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C bill sfrom the 110th Congress, Honda developed the legislation in collaboration in strong pa rtnership with Congressmen Charles Dent (R-PA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), William Cassidy (R-LA), David Wu (D-OR), and Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA), as well as with the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) and other community health advocacy organizations.
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"Chronic Hepatitis B and C are silent killers, poised to strike millions of Americans and it is time for Congress to act in a concerted effort to educate particularly vulnerable communities as well as the general public. For example, due to a number of factors, Asian American & Pacific Islanders have a much higher prevalence rate of hepatitis B and develop liver cancer at a much higher rate than other ethnic groups. However, few in the AAPI community are aware of their risk factors or about how to manage or treat the disease. This bipartisan bill judiciously invests federal money in a balanced, comprehensive approach to viral hepatitis education, prevention, treatment, and management and I look forward to working to pass this legislation.” - Congressman Michael Honda |
The Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act would 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. The bill, with a price tag of 90 million in 2011, will increase the ability of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support state health departments in their prevention, immunization and surveillance efforts. The CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis has been underfunded in comparison with other CDC programs within the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. To view the full press release, click here.
US Congressman Mike Honda
US Congressman Mike Honda representing the 15th District of California has been a huge proponent and advocate for hepatitis B legislation. Please follow Honda on his blog at mikehonda.blogspot.com.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new hepatitis B guidelines in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on September 18, 2008 that recommend testing all people in the United States who were born in Asia and Africa. View the CDC Press Release and the SF Chronicle article. The Asian Liver Center has compiled a set of guidelines for cancer centers based on the new recommendations.
US Office of Minority Health
On December 16, 2008, the Office of Minority Health released new strategies to address chronic hepatitis B in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander communities. The report calls for more health education, awareness and screenings, improved access to care and treatment, and increased research to reduce, and eventually, eliminate chronic hepatitis B. View OMH Press Release. View Report: Goals and Strategies to Address Chronic Hepatitis B.
National Hepatitis B Act
The first ever Hepatitis Bill, H.R. 4550 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on December 15, 2005 by Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), and Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA). The Hepatitis B Bill, S. 3558, was introduced to the Senate by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) on June 22, 2006. The ALC worked with these congresspeople and a coalition of partners including the Hepatitis B Foundation, NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, AAPCHO, ALF, and Hepatitis International.
The National Hepatitis B Act would have amended the Public Health Service Act to develop a national plan for hepatitis B and liver cancer. It would have directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop strategies that will expand vaccination services, education and training, surveillance, and research among high-risk populations. Some details incorporated into the National Hepatitis B Act included protection of persons who test positive for hepatitis B or liver cancer from adverse reactions from their insurance company or employer. It would also have required children entering public and private pre-schools and elementary schools to receive the hepatitis B vaccination.
Sadly, the National Hepatitis B Act was not approved by the House or the Senate. The hepatitis B bill was reintroduced in the house for the 2007-08 congress as HR3944. The Asian Liver Center will be working with our partners and several members of Congress in the near future to get the Hepatitis B Act back on the table and to get it approved.
You can click here to read the HBV Bill H.R. 4550 and click here to read the HBV Bill S. 3558. Please write to your representatives to support the bill!
National Hepatitis B Awareness Week:
Congressman Mike Honda co-sponsored a bill early in 2006 to designate the first National Hepatitis B Awareness Week in May 2006. Congress approved a resolution that acknowledged the heavy burden that APIs carry with chronic HBV infection and related deaths. The resolution recognizes the need for a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign designed to help patients and their physicians identify and manage the illness.
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Congressman Mike Honda speaks about the HBV Bill at the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference (NVHPC), recognizing the Asian and Pacific Islander community as a high-risk group for hepatitis B. |
Recommendations for ACIP Guidelines
In February, 2005 Dr. So submitted a letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on behalf of the National Hepatitis B Taskforce stressing the need for Asian Americans to be delineated in the ACIP adult HBV recommendations. The ACIP makes recommendations for routine administration of vaccines. These guidelines include information about the immunization timeline, dosage size, and other important information for the vaccine.
