Contact Annette Gaudino
Cell 718-208-7531
Email annette.gaudino@treatmentactiongroup.org
Website treatmentactiongroup.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2016
Advocates Call on Clinton to Commit to Ending the Viral Hepatitis Epidemic
130 Signatories Welcome Clinton’s Remarks on High Drug Prices, Urge Further Commitment
New York, NY, September 19, 2016 – Following Secretary Clinton remarks in Cleveland last month on the high price of hepatitis C cures, a group of 130 national advocates today called on the presidential candidate to prioritize the prevention and treatment viral hepatitis. Welcoming Secretary Clinton’s focus on high drug prices, the advocates urged her to go further to address the deadliest infectious disease in the US, and to support specific proposals in her platform:
- An explicit commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health concern.
- The enforcement of the CMS Guidance “Assuring Medicaid Beneficiaries Access to Hepatitis C (HCV) Drugs,” dated November 5, 2015, to ensure compliance with the Social Security Act nationwide.
- An ongoing commitment to remove high drug prices as a barrier to ending the viral hepatitis epidemic.
- A meeting of viral hepatitis experts with her health policy team.
The signatories write: “With your leadership, and your unique ability to call attention to these national and global epidemics, we can establish national and international policies that address and eventually eliminate viral hepatitis.”
“The public health challenges posed by hepatitis B and C go beyond headline grabbing high prices,” said Annette Gaudino, Hepatitis Project Co-Director, Treatment Action Group. “The next administration will determine if we achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat.”
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Treatment Action Group (TAG) is an independent AIDS research and policy think tank fighting for better treatment, a vaccine, and a cure for AIDS. TAG’s programs focus on antiretroviral treatments, HIV basic science and immunology, vaccines and prevention technologies, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Annette Gaudino at 718-208-7531 or email at annette.gaudino@treatmentactiongroup.org.