ACR 175, as introduced, Achadjian. Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day.
This measure would proclaim May 19, 2016, as Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day in California.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Liver cancer and liver disease related to hepatitis
2B and C are two of the leading killers in California; and
3WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne
4disease in the United States and in California; and
5WHEREAS, Early detection of hepatitis B and C infections
6promotes effective management or treatment of these infections,
7preventing disability, loss of productivity and income, and allowing
8people to live full, satisfying, and productive lives; and
9WHEREAS, An undetected and untreated hepatitis B or C
10infection can lead to disability or death; and
11WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 750,000 Californians
12with chronic hepatitis C infection do not know they are infected,
13and are therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer,
14or liver failure; and
15WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 350,000 California
16residents with hepatitis B infection do not know they are infected,
P2 1and are therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer,
2or liver failure; and
3WHEREAS, Untreated hepatitis B and C infections are the
4leading causes of liver failure requiring liver transplant; and
5WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and
6Prevention released updated guidelines calling for baby boomers
7- everyone born between 1945 and 1965 - to receive a one-time
8hepatitis C test, which would save over 100,000 lives; and
9WHEREAS, In 2013, the United States Preventive Services
10Task Force (USPSTF) issued a Grade B rating for screening for
11hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in persons at high risk for
12infection and adults born between 1945 and 1965; and
13WHEREAS, Baby boomers make up 30 percent of California’s
14adult population, and African American baby boomers are twice
15as likely to have hepatitis C as other baby boomers; and
16WHEREAS, In 2009, the USPSTF issued a Grade A rating for
17screening pregnant women for the hepatitis B virus (HBV)
18infection during their first prenatal visit; and
19WHEREAS, In 2014, the USPSTF issued a Grade B rating for
20screening people born in countries where hepatitis B is common,
21United States-born people who were not vaccinated against
22hepatitis B when they were babies and whose parents come from
23countries where hepatitis B is common, and other people at risk
24for hepatitis B; and
25WHEREAS, There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis
26B - the first proven, low-cost vaccination against any form of
27cancer made available to Americans; and
28WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is most prevalent among people of
29Asian and Pacific Islander descent, and one-third of Americans of
30Asian and Pacific Islander descent live in California; and
31WHEREAS, Hepatitis B-related and hepatitis C-related
32hospitalization charges totaled $2.3 billion in 2010 in California,
33mostly paid for by tax-supported public health insurers; and
34WHEREAS, New medications can cure hepatitis C in over 90
35percent of people who are linked to and retained in care and
36treatment; and
37WHEREAS, Hepatitis B can be treated effectively with proper
38medical management and may be curable in the near future; and
P3 1WHEREAS, The Legislature will continue to work to increase
2the affordability of, and access to, care, treatment, and cures for
3hepatitis; and
4WHEREAS, Hepatitis awareness education campaigns and
5accessible screening for hepatitis B and C, along with appropriate
6treatment, can reduce the damage from hepatitis B and C viral
7infection to individuals and to our community, financially, as well
8as physically and emotionally; now, therefore, be it
9Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
10thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims May
1119, 2016, as Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day; and be it further
12Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
13of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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