We have the tools to eliminate hepatitis C. We even have a Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan developed by the HHS that provides a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis. To our great shame, we have not dedicated sufficient resources to implement it. The White House and Congress must no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering of people living with hepatitis C. We must commit the resources necessary to end the hepatitis C epidemic.

As the world marked the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s first reporting on what we now know to be AIDS, President Joe Biden proposed in his budget to continue to ramp up efforts to finally end HIV in the United States. In addition to the increase of $267 million for domestic HIV testing, prevention, and treatment programs as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, which was announced as part of the preliminary budget, Biden proposed a $46 million increase to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs and $20 million for HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

The US House of Representatives is proposing to significantly increase funding to continue to ramp up efforts to end HIV in the United States. In addition to an increase of $245 million for domestic HIV testing, prevention, and treatment programs as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, which matches the amount proposed in President Joe Biden’s budget, the Appropriations Committee in its FY22 Labor, HHS appropriations bill is proposing an $146 million increase to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, (+$100 million over Biden’s budget) and $190 million more for NIH AIDS Research that was not included in the president’s budget. The House is only including an increase of $5 million for CDC’s hepatitis division for a total of $44.5 million.

The federal government issued guidance to insurers to remind them of their obligation to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which are drugs that prevent HIV, at no cost to their beneficiaries. The guidance, in the form of an FAQ, also clarifies that associated services with PrEP, such as provider visits and HIV, hepatitis, and STD testing along with other laboratory tests, must also be covered with no patient cost-sharing.

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute and American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, in collaboration with 122 other patient and provider organizations, delivered a sign-on letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra that urges HHS and the Biden administration to enact policies and protections that improve prescription drug affordability for the American people.