In support of enhanced cross-government efforts to address the prevention, care and treatment of viral hepatitis, a federal advisory body on HIV and STDs recently expanded its scope and title to include viral hepatitis. Now known as the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment (CHAC), the body advises the…
Sounding the Alarm on a Silent Epidemic: Federal HIV/STD Advisory Group Adopts Viral Hepatitis as Priority
February 12, 2013 • 0 comments • By Antigone Dempsey, M.Ed., Co-Chair, CDC-HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment
Highlights from The Liver Meeting
December 10, 2012 • 0 comments • By Corinna Dan, R.N., M.P.H., Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Every fall, hepatitis and liver disease experts gather to share the latest viral hepatitis research and treatment updates at the Liver MeetingTM . I had the opportunity to attend this year’s meeting, held last month in Boston. The meeting was particularly exciting because it featured new information about many novel hepatitis C treatments currently in…
HIV and Viral Hepatitis Summit Fosters National Dialogue Across Sectors
December 6, 2012 • 0 comments • By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Last week in Washington, DC, researchers, clinical and public health providers, advocates, federal leaders and representatives of health departments, professional societies, academia, and the pharmaceutical sector gathered for important discussions at the 2012 National Summit on HIV and Viral Hepatitis Diagnosis, Prevention and Access to Care . Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius…
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Invites Public Comment on Draft Recommendations Related to HIV & HCV Screening
Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued draft recommendations pertaining to HIV and viral hepatitis screening and is inviting public comments on both. The Task Force is an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical…
Alcohol and Liver Health, Resources for Veterans and the Public
October 25, 2012 • 0 comments • By Maggie Chartier, PsyD, MPH, National Program Coordinator for the Behavioral Management of HIV and Hepatitis C, HIV, Hepatitis, and Public Health Pathogens Programs, Clinical Public Health, Office of Public Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Janet Durfee RN, MSN, APRN, Deputy Chief Consultant, Clinical Public Health, Office of Public Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Editor’s note: Today we feature a post from colleagues at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one of the federal partners working to implement the Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. The Plan includes several actions related to educating healthcare providers and persons living with viral hepatitis about the…
Celebrating National Recovery Month and Associated Efforts to Strengthen Viral Hepatitis Services
September 6, 2012 • 2 comments • By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
September marks the 23rd annual observance of National Recovery Month (Recovery Month). Our colleagues at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) organize Recovery Month as an observance to educate Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable people with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live…
Hepatitis Testing Saves Lives
August 30, 2012 • 0 comments • By Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., FFPH, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, @CDC_DrFenton
CDC’s “Recommendations for the Identification of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Persons Born During 1945–1965” was published August 16, 2012 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The new recommendations call for all Americans born from 1945 through 1965 or “baby boomers” to get a one-time blood test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV)….
CDC Now Recommends All Baby Boomers Receive One-time Hepatitis C Test
August 20, 2012 • 0 comments • By Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released final expanded hepatitis C screening recommendations calling for all Americans born from 1945 through 1965 to get a one-time test for hepatitis C. Aimed at identifying more hidden infections among those most affected by the disease and reducing the rising toll of hepatitis C-related…