The United States is currently at an inflection point in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) response. We have the tools for rapid and accurate diagnosis, safe and effective cure, and prevention. These tools are only as useful as access to them can be, which is why the Cure Hepatitis C Act (S.1941) holds so much promise. This bill would implement a wide-scale national test-and-treat program that could bring us closer to HCV elimination in the U.S. by making treatment more accessible. A nationwide subscription model would allow public and private insurers to pay one flat fee for unlimited amounts of medication, thereby incentivizing greater uptake. Medicare beneficiaries would have no cost sharing for treatment and all costs would be waived for those on Medicaid, without insurance, or incarcerated. [1]
This bill’s potential, however, is limited by its exclusions. Section 10 specifies that certain immigrant populations are not eligible for increased access to any prevention, testing, and linkage-to-care services [2], but no disease elimination strategy can succeed without including everyone at greatest risk. Immigrants, like any other community, cannot simply be exempt from communicable disease transmission because a piece of legislation separates them from the rest of the population. This exclusion is not grounded in the reality of HCV epidemiology; as a result, all Americans — regardless of immigration status — will bear the consequences of this politically-motivated decision. Section 10 is also nonsensical from a fiscal standpoint: if additional courses of treatment would not incur any additional cost to the government under the subscription model, but would still save money long-term by preventing hospitalization and liver cancer treatment, how can lawmakers possibly justify this exclusion?
Further problems lie in what the bill does not say. There is barely any mention of substance use disorder or injection drug use, the leading cause of HCV infection in the U.S. [3] It also lacks any comprehensive plan for access in jails, prisons, or detention centers, and does not address care transition between carceral facilities and release. Without a plan to engage correctional health systems, the cost waiver will be virtually useless for increasing access, and the transition back to community is where many people with HCV fall through the cracks. [4] Furthermore, the bill lacks recognition of stigma as a main driver of the HCV epidemic by preventing people from getting diagnosed in the first place. Lastly, it does nothing to change the ban on federal funding for syringes, despite the fact that the CDC’s own website lists used syringes as a locus of transmission. [5]
All of these exclusions and omissions defeat the overall purpose of the bill: to bring the U.S. closer to HCV elimination. They will also lead to higher long-term costs for both public and private payors, as delayed diagnosis worsens liver damage, increases healthcare spending, and enables onward transmission. Prevention and cure are far less expensive than advanced disease management; untreated HCV can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer, and can eventually require transplantation. [6] Because this care often takes place in public hospitals and emergency rooms, these costs are borne by taxpayers. Most importantly, any exclusions in care raise significant ethical issues for physicians — who have taken the Hippocratic oath — and human rights concerns for the public at-large.
Luckily, these problems can be solved if there is sufficient political will to do so. The Cure Hepatitis C Act’s sponsors can still ensure that the bill can reach committee and be amended in time for passage this session, but they must act quickly. In order to gain the necessary community support to advocate for more cosponsors and get the bill passed, it must align with national and global elimination principles. The immigration-based exclusions in Section 10 must be removed to avoid setting a dangerous precedent for the future, and to enable all residents to access screening, prevention, and linkage-to-care. Amendments must be added to address stigma, harm reduction, and the correctional health system. If public health and fiscal responsibility are prioritized over politics, S.1941 can be a great success that eliminates HCV in the U.S. in our lifetimes.
References
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1941/text
[2] Ibid
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcp/populations-settings/pwid.html
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925004219
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/prevention/index.html
[6] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-026-14360-1
Action Alert
Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor the Cure Hepatitis C Act
This is the most comprehensive hepatitis C specific bill ever introduced in Congress. It would authorize funding for HCV testing and treatment and for the infrastructure needed to treat people in the settings where they access care. In addition to saving lives and moving the United States toward elimination of HCV, the bill would also save over $6 billion by avoiding costly health care due to advanced liver disease, liver cancer, and transplants.
This bill can become law – but only with strong grassroots action from the community. Members of Congress must hear from us about why it is important that they support the bill.
TAG has developed this Action Alert to provide guidance on specific actions that you can take this month to help pass this bill. Some actions will take a few minutes and others will take longer. All of them will make a huge difference.
Right now, the focus is on the Senate as there is not yet a version of the bill introduced in the House of Representatives. We are trying to get as many Senators as possible to cosponsor the bill. The more cosponsors, the greater the likelihood that the bill will come up for a vote and move through the process. Our goal in August is to reach as many Senators as possible and urge them to cosponsor S.1941.
Communicate with Your Senator’s Washington, DC office:
Contact your Senator’s health care and district staff. Identify your Senators and review their webpages. Write down their Washington, DC office phone number and the phone number of their district office closest to you.
Email the staff person in your Senator’s office who handles health care issues. Staff members are the eyes and ears of the Senator and are the ones who will bring forward your request. You can get the name and email address of the staff members by calling the Washington, DC office and telling whoever answers the phone:
“Hello, I live in (state). I would like to get the name and email address of the staff member who handles health care issues for the Senator.”
Once you have this information, email the health care staff member with the following message:
“Dear (name),
My name is (name) and I live in (city, state). I am writing as a constituent to urge Senator (name) to cosponsor S.1941, The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025. This lifesaving bill will help move the United States toward eliminating hepatitis C. This legislation is important to me because (add 1-2 sentences letting them know why you care about this bill. Personal stories are an important way to let our elected officials know why they should care about an issue).
Take Action During the August Recess:
The Senate is on its August recess until September 4th. This means they are back home in their states working in their district offices. Some of them will host Town Hall meetings with their constituents and/or participate in community events where you might have access to them. This is a great time to get messages to your Senators when they are much more available. You can call your district office and ask if the Senator will be hosting any Town Halls or other local events during the August recess.
If they will, you can use the opportunity to urge them to cosponsor S.1941. Prepare your talking points in advance. You will likely have no more than 30-60 seconds to deliver your remarks. Let them know that the bill is bipartisan and, most importantly, let them know why the bill is important to you.
A very effective way of advocating with your Senators is by having a district visit with them or their staff. That allows you to have more time to discuss the bill and why they should support it. Below are some steps on how to schedule and facilitate a district visit.
- Call the district office. Identify as a constituent.
- Let them know you would like to schedule a district visit in August to talk about viral hepatitis legislation. They will let you know how to schedule a visit. You might have to email a scheduler or fill out a form on their website. If you don’t get a response, don’t give up. Sometimes it takes a few emails to get a meeting scheduled.
- The meeting can be in person in the district office or it can be virtual.
If the meeting is scheduled:
- Invite others to join you, including people who can also bring their personal stories and experiences.
- Prepare in advance and make sure everyone has a role in the meeting.
- Let us know if you have a meeting scheduled. We can help by providing talking points, background information, and a tips sheet on how to have a productive district visit. Contact Ryan Clary, clary@treatmentactionnetwork.org.
Thank you for taking action! Let us know that you’ve sent emails, participated in a Town Hall meeting, and/or held a district visit and any responses or questions you’ve received. Please share this Alert widely and encourage others to make their voices heard.
