Hepatitis

Curative direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been available for more than a decade, yet, an estimated 2.4 to 4.0 million Americans had the chronic disease between 2017 and 2020 (latest data available). This past June, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 (CHCA)—one way to potentially solve this public health problem once and for all. The legislation builds on encouraging developments, including Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s recent $98 million pilot program directed at individuals with substance use disorder and serious mental illness—populations that shoulder a disproportionate HCV burden.