The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute strongly urges the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to maintain the recommendation of a universal hepatitis B birth dose in the United States. Maintaining this requirement will not only help prevent people from becoming ill but result in ending hepatitis B in our country, which is still a highly infectious disease.
We the undersigned 23 organizations urge you to protect and, if possible, increase funding for domestic viral hepatitis programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At a time when we have tools including vaccines and curative treatments that can help eliminate viral hepatitis in the United States, we express our grave concern with the President’s FY 2026 budget request that eliminates $43 million in dedicated funding for hepatitis prevention. Instead, it proposes a $300 million block grant to states that would also include STD and tuberculosis prevention.
We the undersigned 22 organizations urge you to protect and, if possible, increase funding for domestic viral hepatitis programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At a time when we have tools including vaccines and curative treatments that can help eliminate viral hepatitis in the United States, we express our grave concern with the President’s FY 2026 budget request that eliminates $43 million in dedicated funding for hepatitis prevention. Instead, it proposes a $300 million block grant to states that would also include STD and tuberculosis prevention.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a leading national HIV and hepatitis policy organization promoting quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions. While we share a commitment to addressing the high cost of prescription drugs, we have significant concerns with S.B. 3, 4, and 5 that establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). We believe it will not translate into lower drug costs for patients and may dampen future drug development.
As a nation, we are able to advance efforts to end the HIV and viral hepatitis epidemics. We possess proven prevention tools, including pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP), and effective treatments. We urge you to continue your historically strong commitment and leverage this pivotal moment to support the nation’s public health by comprehensively addressing these chronic diseases. Increased investment – and certainly not cuts – in surveillance, education, prevention, and care and treatment will lead to further progress in reducing HIV and viral hepatitis and allow us to continue to hold the promise of ending these epidemics.