What has the VA's response been to
the epidemic?
The Federal Response
Search legislation and reports for
Veterans submitted below at
http://Thomas.loc.gov
Bill number and summery provided
below.
Late M. Action urged to stem hepatitis C. US Med 1998;34:3, 42, 43.
July 19, 1998
House Committee On Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee On Benefits
Statement Of LEONARD B. SEEFF, M.D.
National Institutes Of Diabetes, Digestive, And Kidney Diseases
National Institutes Of Health
And Former Chief, Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
The only large, population-based screening study in the VA of which I am aware is one that was conducted at my VA Medical 2355l Center here in Washington, DC over a 6-week period at the beginning of 1994. The intent of our study was to screen 1,000 consecutive patients ...for the presence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers. We accomplished our aim in 839 patients and were astonished to find that, whereas 3% were infected with hepatitis B, 21% had markers of hepatitis C virus infection....
Viral Hepatitis the US Military- A Study of Hospitalization
October 15, 1998
House Report 105 HR 820 DAN BURTON, Indiana, Chairman-
Seventh Report By The Committee On Government Reform And Oversight
51 351 CC Union Calendar No. 461 105th Congress, 2d Session
HEPATITIS C: SILENT EPIDEMIC, MUTE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE
Between 1995 and 1997 the annual number of newly identified persons rose from 20,203 to 21,424 to 24,850. In 1998 an additional 29,799 unique cases were recorded within the VA. Of all veterans in the VA system testing positive for hepatitis C, 64% were Vietnam Era veterans. The mean age of HCV infected veterans is 49 years.
VA researcher Dr. Gary Roselle reports HCV infection in VA has increased 285% during the 4 year period Roselle states; “Since most veterans are not treated in VA medical facilities, the actual incidence of HCV infected veterans is undoubtedly much greater.”
Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop – ¡HCV screening program for all U.S. military personnel…
¡all possible transmission routes for hepatitis C - including
¡more research is needed on immune globulin inoculations...begin screening troops for hepatitis C.
"You've got a demon on your hands," he said. "You'd better find out where that's coming from if you can."
Search
legislation for
Veterans
submitted to
Congress below
at
http://Thomas.loc.gov
106 Congress-
Two House Bills
H. R. 1020 SNYDER
Veterans' Hepatitis C Benefits Act of 1999
establish a presumption of service connection for the occurrence of hepatitis C in certain veterans .
(1) Transfusion of blood or blood products before December 31, 1992.
(2) Blood exposure on or through skin or mucous membrane.
(3) Hemodialysis.
(4) Tattoo or body piercing or acupuncture.
(5) Unexplained liver disease.
(6) Unexplained abnormal liver function tests.
(7) Working in a health care occupation.
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs HR 4751 IH > H. R. 1020> HCON 130 IH
nH. R. 5132 FRELINGHUYSEN
Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health Care Act
establish a comprehensive program for testing and treatment of veterans for the Hepatitis C virus.
(A) each veteran who served in the active military, naval, or air service during the Vietnam era and is enrolled to receive care under section 1710 of this title who requests the test or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any care or treatment from the Secretary; and
(B) to any other veteran who requests the test.
(2) After the end of the one-year period referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus to any veteran who presents one or more risk factors for that virus and who requests the test.
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs H. R. 5132 >H. R. 639
Alter MJ, et al. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 1988 through 1994. N Engl J Med 1999;341:556-562
The GAO, CDC, NIH and VA met and
moved HCV classification was
downgraded from level 3 to level 2
and research moved from
Search legislation for Veterans
submitted to Congress below at
http://Thomas.loc.gov
2001
107 Congress
Veteran's own willful
misconduct -
It must be taken into consideration
that the Hepatitis C virus
penetrates the blood-brain barrier
causing an array of mental problems
that impacts veterans lives. Greater
than 60% of HCV patients suffer from
conditions such as "brain fog,"
depression, to more sever disorders
that include bipolar and
schizophrenic behaviors. Higher
numbers suffer from chronic fatigue
and joint pain long before the
diagnoses of Hepatitis C is
obtained. Self medication though
alcohol and other substances is
common place. This form of self-help
is a death warrant for the vet.
Senate version:
S 457 IS SNOWE
PRESUMPTION OF
SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR CERTAIN
VETERANS WITH HEPATITIS C
...establish a presumption of
service-connection for certain
veterans with Hepatitis C
(A) Period of service before
December 31, 1992, a transfusion
of blood or blood products.
(B) Exposed to blood on or
through the skin or a mucous
membrane during a period of
service.
(C )Underwent hemodyalisis
during a period of service.
(D) Experienced a needle-stick
accident or medical event
involving a needle, not due to
the veteran's own willful
misconduct, during a period of
service.
(E) Diagnosed with unexplained
liver disease during a period of
service.
(F) Experienced an unexplained
liver dysfunction value or test
during a period of service.
(G) Served in a health-care
position or specialty during a
period of service under such
circumstances as the Secretary
shall prescribe for purposes of
this subsection.
Referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
S.2599.IS >
S 457 IS >
S 1846 IS
Congress version:nH.
R. 639 FRELINGHUYSEN
Veterans
Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health
Care Act 2001...testing and
treatment of veterans for the
Hepatitis C virus.¡(2)
shall provide appropriate
treatment for that veteran in
accordance with the national
protocol for the treatment of
Hepatitis C .
n (A) each veteran who
served in the active military,
naval, or air service during the
Vietnam era or who is considered
to be `at risk,' and is enrolled
to receive care under section
1710 of this title who requests
the test or is otherwise
receiving a physical examination
or any care or treatment from
the Secretary; and
n(B) to any other veteran
who requests the test.
Referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs-
H. R. 5132 >H.
R. 639 >
H. R. 73
Search legislation for Veterans
submitted to Congress below at
http://Thomas.loc.gov
n
2004
108 Congress H. RES. 633
UDALL
Expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives 2004
Expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that
there is a
critical need
to increase awareness and
education about hepatitis C
.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico
submitted the following
resolution; which was "Whereas
the
majority of veterans
infected are Vietnam era
veterans
, and the prevalence of
infection is highest in this
group"
Referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
nLast attempt by
congress for a veteran's
Presumed Service Connection bill
2005
109 Congress H. R. 3434
ANDREWS
PRESUMPTION OF
SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR
CERTAIN VETERANS WITH
HEPATITIS C ...establish
a
presumption of
service-connection
for certain veterans with
Hepatitis C
(A) during a period of
service before December 31,
1992, a transfusion of blood
or blood products.
(B) exposed to blood on or
through the skin or a mucous
membrane during a period of
service.
(C ) underwent hemodyalisis
during a period of service.
(D) experienced a
needle-stick accident or
medical event involving a
needle,
not due to
the veteran's own willful
misconduct, during a period
of service.
(E) diagnosed with
unexplained liver disease
during a period of service.
(F) experienced an
unexplained liver
dysfunction value or test
during a period of service.
(G) served in a health-care
position or specialty during
a period of service under
such circumstances as the
Secretary shall prescribe
for purposes of this
subsection.
Referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
HR 3455 IH >
H. R. 3434
Search legislation for
Veterans submitted to Congress
below at
http://Thomas.loc.gov
These little pieces mean something
when your writing legislation.
110 Congress
H. R. 2552 TOWNS - WILSON
Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and
Prevention Act
Referred to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce
HR 3539 >
HR 1290 >
H. R. 2552 >
Senate
S 1445 IS KENNEDY-HUTCHISON
Hepatitis C Epidemic Control
and Prevention Act 2007
Referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
S. 1143 >
S 521 IS >
S 1445 IS
Congress makes the following
findings:
(8) Conservative estimates place the
costs of direct medical expenses for
Hepatitis C at more than
$1,000,000,000 in the United States
annually, and such costs will
undoubtedly increase in the absence
of expanded prevention and treatment
efforts.
This bill does not
mention what type of expanded
prevention and treatment effort,
i.e., national level, high risk
population or a well defined general
population, etc. Veterans that do
not attend VA health care centers
will not be notified of the risk for
the Hepatitis C virus infection.
This act and others that have
followed are not a "federal
response" to the hepatitis C
epidemic:(
More history here
http://hcvets.com/data/military/PrevalenceVets.htm
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