Sec. 7101. Biennial assessment of HHS hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevention, education, research, and medical management plan
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Title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 241 et seq. ) is amended— by striking section 317N ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–15 ); and by adding after part V the following: The Secretary shall conduct a biennial assessment of the Secretary’s plan for the prevention, control, and medical management of, and education and research relating to, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, for the purposes of— incorporating into such plan new knowledge or observations relating to hepatitis B and hepatitis C (such as knowledge and observations that may be derived from clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological research and disease detection, prevention, and surveillance outcomes); addressing gaps in the coverage or effectiveness of the plan; and evaluating and, if appropriate, updating recommendations, guidelines, or educational materials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institutes of Health for health care providers or the public on viral hepatitis in order to be consistent with the plan.
Not later than October 1 of the first even-numbered year beginning after the date of the enactment of this part, and October 1 of each even-numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the results of the assessments conducted under subsection (a). Such notice shall include— a description of any revisions to the plan referred to in subsection
(a)as a result of the assessment; an explanation of the basis for any such revisions, including the ways in which such revisions can reasonably be expected to further promote the original goals and objectives of the plan; and in the case of a determination by the Secretary that the plan does not need revision, an explanation of the basis for such determination. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and in accordance with the plan referred to in section 399OO(a), shall implement programs to increase awareness and enhance knowledge and understanding of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Such programs shall include— the conduct of culturally and linguistically appropriate health education in primary and secondary schools, college campuses, public awareness campaigns, and community outreach activities (especially to the ethnic communities with high rates of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C and other high-risk groups) to promote public awareness and knowledge about— the value of hepatitis A and hepatitis B immunization; risk factors, transmission, and prevention of hepatitis B and hepatitis C; the value of screening for the early detection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C; and options available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C; the promotion of immunization programs that increase awareness and access to hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines for susceptible adults and children; the training of health care professionals regarding the importance of vaccinating individuals infected with hepatitis C and individuals who are at risk for hepatitis C infection against hepatitis A and hepatitis B; the training of health care professionals regarding the importance of vaccinating individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B and individuals who are at risk for chronic hepatitis B infection against the hepatitis A virus; the training of health care professionals and health educators to make them aware of the high rates of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C in certain adult ethnic populations, and the importance of prevention, detection, and medical management of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and of liver cancer screening; the development and distribution of health education curricula (including information relating to the special needs of individuals infected with or at risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, such as the importance of prevention and early intervention, regular monitoring, the recognition of psychosocial needs, appropriate treatment, and liver cancer screening) for individuals providing hepatitis B and hepatitis C counseling; and support for the implementation of the curricula described in paragraph
(6)by State and local public health agencies. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall support the integration of activities described in paragraph
(3)into existing clinical and public health programs at State, local, territorial, and Tribal levels (including community health clinics, programs for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and substance use disorder, and programs for individuals in correctional settings). For purposes of this subsection, the term CDC Director means the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the term AHRQ Director means the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Due to the rapidly evolving standard of care associated with diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis infection, the AHRQ Director shall convene the Preventive Services Task Force under section 915(a) to review its recommendation for screening for HBV and HCV infection every 3 years. The Secretary shall establish a mechanism by which to support and promote the development of State, local, territorial, and Tribal voluntary hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing programs to screen the high-prevalence populations to aid in the early identification of chronically infected individuals. The Secretary shall prohibit the use of the results of a hepatitis B or hepatitis C test conducted by a testing program developed or supported under this subparagraph for any of the following: Issues relating to health insurance. To screen or determine suitability for employment. To discharge a person from employment. The Secretary shall support State, local, territorial, and Tribal programs in a wide variety of settings, including those providing primary and specialty health care services in nonprofit private and public sectors, to— provide individuals with ongoing risk factors for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection with client-centered education and counseling which concentrates on— promoting testing of individuals that have been exposed to their blood, family members, and their sexual partners; and changing behaviors that place individuals at risk for infection; provide individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C with education, health information, and counseling to reduce their risk of— dying from end-stage liver disease and liver cancer; and transmitting viral hepatitis to others; and provide people chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C who are pregnant or of childbearing age with culturally and linguistically appropriate health information, such as how to prevent hepatitis B perinatal infection, and to alleviate fears associated with pregnancy or raising a family. The Secretary shall support State, local, territorial, and Tribal efforts to expand the current vaccination programs to protect every child in the Nation and all susceptible adults, particularly those infected with hepatitis C and high-prevalence ethnic populations and other high-risk groups, from the risks of acute and chronic hepatitis B infection by— ensuring continued funding for hepatitis B vaccination for all children 18 years of age or younger through the Vaccines for Children program; ensuring that the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are followed regarding hepatitis B vaccination for infants, children, and adults; requiring proof of hepatitis B vaccination for entry into public or private daycare, preschool, elementary school, secondary school, and institutions of higher education; expanding the availability of hepatitis B vaccination for all adults to protect them from becoming acutely or chronically infected, including ethnic and other populations with high prevalence rates of chronic hepatitis B infection; expanding the availability of hepatitis B vaccination for all adults, particularly those of reproductive age (women and men less than 45 years of age), to protect them from the risk of hepatitis B infection; ensuring the vaccination of individuals infected, or at risk for infection, with hepatitis C against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and other infectious diseases, as appropriate, for which such individuals may be at increased risk; and ensuring the vaccination of individuals infected, or at risk for infection, with hepatitis B against hepatitis A virus and other infectious diseases, as appropriate, for which such individuals may be at increased risk. The Secretary shall support State, local, territorial, and Tribal programs that support— referral of persons chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C— for medical evaluation to determine the appropriateness for antiviral treatment to reduce the risk of progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer; and for ongoing medical management including regular monitoring of liver function and screening for liver cancer; and referral of persons infected with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection or acute or chronic hepatitis C infection for drug and alcohol abuse treatment where appropriate. The Secretary, acting through the CDC Director, shall provide increased support to adult viral hepatitis prevention coordinators in State, local, territorial, and Tribal health departments in order to enhance the additional management, networking, and technical expertise needed to ensure successful integration of hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevention and control activities into existing public health programs. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall support the establishment and maintenance of a national chronic and acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C surveillance program, in order to identify— trends in the incidence of acute and chronic hepatitis B and acute and chronic hepatitis C; trends in the prevalence of acute and chronic hepatitis B and acute and chronic hepatitis C infection among groups that may be disproportionately affected; and trends in liver cancer and end-stage liver disease incidence and deaths, caused by chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C in the high-risk ethnic populations. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall prepare a report outlining the population-based seroprevalence studies currently underway, future planned studies, the criteria involved in determining which seroprevalence studies to conduct, defer, or suspend, and the scope of those studies, the economic and clinical impact of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and the impact of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C infections on the quality of life. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this part, the Secretary shall submit the report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. The Secretary shall not disclose any individually identifiable information identified under paragraph
(1)or derived through studies under paragraph (2). The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the National Cancer Institute, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall— conduct epidemiologic and community-based research to develop, implement, and evaluate best practices for hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevention especially in the ethnic populations with high rates of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C and other high-risk groups; conduct research on hepatitis B and hepatitis C natural history, pathophysiology, improved treatments and prevention (such as the hepatitis C vaccine), and noninvasive tests that help to predict the risk of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer; conduct research that will lead to better noninvasive or blood tests to screen for liver cancer, and more effective treatments of liver cancer caused by chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C; and conduct research comparing the effectiveness of screening, diagnostic, management, and treatment approaches for chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, and liver cancer in the affected communities. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall provide expanded support for individuals with limited access to health education, testing, and health care services and groups that may be disproportionately affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The Secretary shall develop benchmarks for evaluating the effectiveness of the programs and activities conducted under this section and make determinations as to whether such benchmarks have been achieved. The Secretary may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, States, political subdivisions of States, territories, Indian Tribes, or nonprofit entities that have special expertise relating to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or both, to carry out activities under this part. To be eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. .
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- 42 USC 247b–15
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Sec. 7101
Biennial assessment of HHS hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevention, education, research, and medical management plan
Cite42 USC 247b–15
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