Advocacy Committee
Join community members to support the City Council funded Viral Hepatitis Initiative and to advocate for other local, state, or federal policy and legislative issues.
Goals:
- Educate City Council members on the impact of the Viral Hepatitis Initiative
- Share information with community members, staff from community-based organizations focused on harm reduction, syringe exchange, drug user health, immigrant and foreign-born populations, people with HIV/AIDS, and others at risk of viral hepatitis regarding advocacy and legislative issues
- Provide information to the HepFreeNYC community regarding state and federal legislative issues
Support the committee efforts by sharing our content, and following us on social media!
Related Advocacy Posts
Senators Introduce Federal Legislation to Eliminate Hepatitis C
Senators Introduce Federal Legislation to Eliminate Hepatitis C On June 4, 2025, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a national Hep C elimination program. The legislation would allow states and local entities to apply for funding to expand access to Hep C testing and treatment and strengthen hepatitis-related infrastructure. It would support expanding access to point-of-care Hep B and C diagnostics and innovative care delivery models for populations in need of treatment. Based in part on the Louisiana Hepatitis C Elimination Plan, the legislation would use a subscription-based procurement model to make lower cost Hep C treatment widely available by authorizing the HHS Secretary to enter into agreements with one or more drug companies to provide treatments for distribution at pharmacies, state and local correctional systems, and the Indian Health Service. Last June, the Congressional Budget Office released a report showing long-term federal cost savings related to policies designed to increase Hep C treatment rates. Senator Cassidy’s press release on the bill is here, and the bill text is here. Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by HepFree NYC Tags: Advocacy Alerts
Take Action | Preserving CDC’s Viral Hepatitis Laboratory (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases)
AASLD developed a Dear Colleague letter in support of DVH’s laboratory and getting it reinstated. The letter is open for signatories through May 16.
#JustB Storytelling Project (Hep B Foundation)
In collaboration with StoryCenter, Hep B Foundation will be working on the #justB Storytelling Project to make the real voices of every-day people living with/affected by Hep B heard.
Advocacy | NYC Council Educational Briefing on Viral Hepatitis
Hep Free NYC Council Educational Briefing on Hep B and C Highlights!
