HR 1767

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recommending increased funding at the state
3	and federal levels for hepatitis prevention and treatment.
4
5	WHEREAS, three hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
6	and hepatitis C, cause significant morbidity and mortality in
7	Florida, and
8	WHEREAS, an estimated 4 million people in the United States
9	are infected with hepatitis C, and
10	WHEREAS, an estimated 1.25 million persons are chronically
11	infected with hepatitis B in the United States, and
12	WHEREAS, hepatitis A continues to be one of the most
13	frequently reported vaccine-preventable diseases in the United
14	States, and
15	WHEREAS, an estimated 270,000 Floridians are currently
16	infected with hepatitis C and most are unaware of their
17	infection, and
18	WHEREAS, if left undetected, hepatitis B and C can lead to
19	cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, or death, and
20	WHEREAS, the Hepatitis and Liver Failure Prevention and
21	Control Program of the Department of Health has integrated with
22	other public health and private providers to enhance hepatitis
23	prevention and control, and
24	WHEREAS, hepatitis A and hepatitis B are preventable by
25	vaccination, and
26	WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
27	recommends that adults at increased risk for infection or
28	serious consequences of infection receive vaccination for
29	hepatitis A and hepatitis B to prevent infection and improve
30	health, and recommends that adults at increased risk for
31	infection or serious consequences of infection receive testing
32	for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to become aware of their status,
33	to prevent disease transmission, and to improve health, and
34	WHEREAS, key medical organizations are now stating that the
35	federal and state governments have important roles in supporting
36	not only vaccine purchase, but also in creating infrastructure
37	that can further expand and appropriately handle more aggressive
38	national immunization goals, and
39	WHEREAS, these organizations have recommended that the
40	federal and state governments need additional funds to purchase
41	vaccines for the uninsured and underinsured adult populations,
42	and
43	WHEREAS, Florida has adopted such national immunization
44	goals along with additional goals of increasing the testing
45	available to adults at high risk for hepatitis C, and
46	WHEREAS, identification of hepatitis C-infected persons
47	through laboratory testing allows for counseling to prevent
48	further spread of the disease, along with vaccination against
49	hepatitis A and B, which can cause additional liver damage, and
50	WHEREAS, persons with acute or chronic viral hepatitis can
51	experience improved quality and length of life from education,
52	social support, and medical referral, NOW, THEREFORE,
53
54	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
55	Florida:
56
57	That the House of Representatives supports the prevention
58	and control of viral hepatitis through the following measures:
59	1.  Implementing prevention and education activities by
60	state and local public health programs to counsel and screen all
61	persons at risk for viral hepatitis;
62	2.  Purchasing and distributing hepatitis A and hepatitis B
63	vaccines to immunize adult residents at increased risk for
64	hepatitis infection or the serious consequences of infection;
65	3.  Using both pediatric and adult hepatitis B vaccine and
66	other prevention services to immunize all children and adults at
67	increased risk, thereby eliminating transmission of hepatitis B
68	in the state;
69	4.  Ensuring surveillance and evaluation of the infection
70	rates of hepatitis A, B, and C;
71	5.  Implementing programs to educate all healthcare
72	providers about diagnosis, medical management, and prevention of
73	viral hepatitis; and
74	6.  Enhancing the social support and medical referral
75	services available to state residents infected with viral
76	hepatitis.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.