Your Comments Requested on Renewal of HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2011

Your Comments Requested on Renewal of HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2011

Your Comments Requested on Renewal of HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2011

Deadline for Comments: Friday, July 5, 2013 | 5 p.m., Eastern Time

Viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic in the United States. A leading infectious cause of death claiming the lives of 12,000–15,000 Americans each year, viral hepatitis remains virtually unknown to the general public, at-risk populations, and policymakers. Even health care providers often lack knowledge and awareness about viral hepatitis.

In May 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an Action Plan, Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (PDF - 672KB). The Action Plan describes more than 150 steps to increase viral hepatitis awareness and knowledge among health care providers and communities, and improve access to quality prevention, care, and treatment services for viral hepatitis through the end of 2013. The plan is organized into six priorities, one of which is to reduce viral hepatitis caused by drug use behaviors.

HHS and its Federal partners have released a Request for Information, which seeks broad public input as efforts begin to renew the 2011 Action Plan over 3 years, 2014–2016. Key questions to consider, but are not limited to, include the following:

• Are there critical gaps in viral hepatitis activities that should be given a major focus in a renewed Action Plan?
• Are there effective models and best practices [in viral hepatitis] that should be considered for replication?
• How can Government better engage with nongovernmental stakeholders in implementing the national Viral Hepatitis Action Plan?

The deadline to submit comments is Friday, July 5, 2013, at 5 p.m. eastern time.

Please address questions and comments to Corinna Dan at corinna.dan@hhs.gov.

Written responses should be addressed to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 443–H, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: 2014 Viral Hepatitis Action Plan