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September 2004
The purpose of this update is to keep NVHR member organizations informed
of progress towards the NVHR goals for the year and to let everyone know
of other developments affecting the NVHR.
Progress Report on the National Hepatitis Plan:
We are pleased to report excellent progress in writing the National Plan.
Alexandra Levitt, our designated writer, states that drafts of three chapters
(vaccines, research, and prevention) have been completed and are being
reviewed by Hal Margolis and his team. We had hoped that this process
would be farther along but travel schedules and other competing priorities
have slowed progress just a bit.
- The Outreach/Education Chapter is in the hands of the final review
team and will be sent to the Board of Directors’ Plan subcommittee
for final review before sending it to members of the Outreach Education
Workgroup for comment.
- The section on refugee/immigrant vaccine issues in the Vaccine Chapter
is being revised after receiving input from Susan Maloney and Michelle
Weinberg of CDC.
- Outlines have been prepared on the remaining two chapters, Treatment/Care
and Policy, and materials have been gathered to inform (not sure what
this means, but it seems like something is missing after “inform”,
or maybe the word “inform” needs to be changed) the content.
If all goes as planned, members of the workgroups will soon be seeing
these chapters.
Policy Positions:
Since the last Update the NVHR has published a policy position statement
(PPS) recommending increased funding for Immunizations under the PHS 317
Program. A copy of the position can be viewed on the NVHR web site at
www.nvhr.org/news/index.htm. The Executive Committee has forwarded to
the Board of Directors for final approval a policy position statement
which focuses on NVHR’s rejection of the US Preventive Services
Task Force Recommendations on Hepatitis C Screening. In addition, the
Executive Committee is reviewing a proposal supporting increased funding
for research on hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Changes in Membership:
Dick Conlon has contacted all those who registered at the national meeting
in an effort to refine the membership directory. He found that several
e-mail addresses were incorrect and he is working to make corrections
to complete a 2004 directory.
Since Hal Margolis retired as Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis
at CDC, he is no longer a member of the Board of Directors. He is continuing,
however, as an unpaid consultant to the NVHR.
National Meeting:
The Board of Directors has appointed a subcommittee to begin looking into
dates and logistics for a National Meeting. The initial projection is
that this meeting will convene in February or March 2005.
Addressing Coverage and Reimbursement for Prevention,
Detection and Medical Management of Viral Hepatitis in the U.S.:
This project, mentioned in the last Update, has progressed to the point
that a formal, four-phase plan has been developed. Among other things,
the plan calls for research by health economists to review the literature
and identify the levels of coverage for both the private and public sectors.
It also proposes the creation of an Advisory Panel to review those findings
and recommend best use of the data. The Plan also suggests that a NVHR
White Paper be written and distributed widely as an educational and training
device for private practitioners, care givers, and public health experts.
All aspects of this project will require additional sponsorship. The Board
of Directors has given the go-ahead to launch fund raising for this project.
If funded, the findings from the research, the recommendations of the
Advisory Panel, and the white paper will be shared with the full NVHR
membership at the general meeting.
Funding:
Thanks to Gilead for a generous grant of $100,000 to the NVHR. These funds
bring the total contributions for 2004 to $293,000 thus assuring that
NVHR can finish the work on the National Hepatitis Plan as scheduled.
Dick Conlon
Administrator
NVHR
Email: rconlon@nvhr.org
September 2004
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