On May 14, 2013, the California Hepatitis Alliance (CalHEP) held a briefing on the viral hepatitis epidemic at the State Capitol in Sacramento. CalHEP, a program of Project Inform, is a statewide coalition of over 100 organizations advocated for an end to the hepatitis B and C epidemics. The briefing educated legislators, their staff, administrative officials, industry partners, and community advocates about the severity of the viral hepatitis epidemic in the state, challenges and opportunities in testing, care, and treatment, and model programs that the state should help fund, including telemedicine and community-based screening/testing.
Presenters at the briefing included Rachel McLean, California’s Viral Hepatitis Coordinator, who provided an overview of the epidemic and an update on implementation of the state’s hepatitis strategic plan; Dr. Lorenzo Rossaro, from UC Davis Medical Center and a leading hepatologist, who provided a hepatitis C medical/treatment update and highlighted his successful telemedicine program; Dr. Stuart Fong, chair of San Francisco Hep B Free, who provided a hepatitis B medical/treatment update and discussed the model Hep B Free program; Paul Sousa, who was cured of hepatitis C and told his personal story; and former Assembly Member Fiona Ma, who told her story of living with chronic hepatitis B and spoke about the need for the state to contribute to the fight against viral hepatitis
About 50 people attended the briefing, including 3 legislators, several legislative staff, representatives from the California Department of Health and the Office of AIDS, industry partners, and community advocates. CalHEP held a reception after the briefing and spoke with 2 additional legislators who attended. Briefing packets were distributed to the legislative offices that didn’t attend.
This briefing ensured the presence of viral hepatitis in the State Capitol during Hepatitis Awareness Month and laid the groundwork for an increased effort to secure state funding for hepatitis B and C testing and pilot telemedicine project.