Action Plan to Address the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis Released by the Department of Health and Human Services

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Action Plan to Address the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis Released by the

Department of Health and Human Services

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association for the

Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) welcomes the United States Department of Health

and Human Services' (HHS) report Combating the Silent Epidemic: US Department of

Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of

Viral Hepatitis. The plan was developed by an interagency working group in

collaboration with professional societies, community-based organizations, and

other members of the public and presented by the office of Assistant Secretary

for Health Dr. Koh on May 12, 2011.

We applaud the political direction provided by HHS, but we must, however, sound

a cautionary note: This report is only as valuable as Congress' willingness to

fund the initiatives recommended in the action plan. The toll on human lives as

well as the financial toll of the hepatitis epidemic is clear. These future

costs can be avoided, but it requires a financial investment now. For too long

viral hepatitis has been woefully underfunded. AASLD urges Congress to rectify

this oversight and fully fund the HHS action plan. Yes, we understand the

financial crisis facing our nation, but funding the HHS action plan is a

decision we cannot afford to postpone. We must pay now to avoid the massive

costs in human lives and dollars that will surely be paid later if we fail to

act.

Since its creation more than 60 years ago, AASLD has been dedicated to the

prevention and cure of liver disease. A goal of growing importance for AASLD

over the past few years has been raising the public's awareness of viral

hepatitis. The screening, prevention, and treatment of viral hepatitis is and

will continue to be major issues for our Society since it is the number one

cause of liver cancer, which is one of the few cancers growing in incidence and

in the top ten frequent causes of death in the US.

We trust that the action plan released by Dr. Koh's office will bring increased

visibility to viral hepatitis as it coordinates the efforts of all departments

in HHS. It follows on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report from January 2010

entitled Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and

Control of Hepatitis B and C, which estimated that 1 in 50 Americans has viral

hepatitis. AASLD partnered with the Trust for America's Health in issuing in

September 2010 the study HBV & HCV: America's Hidden Epidemics, the intention of

which was to create a detailed recommendation plan to translate the scientific

findings of the IOM report into public policy initiatives. The HHS action plan

is the natural next step in this progression – the necessary response by the

Federal government to the IOM report on this undiagnosed epidemic facing our

country.

About AASLD

AASLD is the leading medical organization for advancing the science and practice

of hepatology. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD's vision is to prevent and

cure liver diseases.

Media Contact: Bologna

703/299-9766

gbologna@...

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