{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-introduces-historic-bill-fight-hepatitis-c", "Congressman Johnson Introduces Historic Bill To Fight Hepatitis C", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-10) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 that builds a nationwide, federally coordinated \u201ctest-to-treat\u201d elimination program for hepatitis C (HVC). The bill is supported by more than 100 public health and education organizations and is the House companion to the Cure Hepatitis C Act introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA).\n\n\u201cI am asking that we work together to raise awareness about hepatitis C \u2013 a silent killer \u2013 so that others at risk can get tested and treated,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. After his own diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis C, the Congressman became a national advocate for access to treatment and destigmatization.\n\n\u201cAs a physician, I have seen what happens when a curable disease goes untreated simply because a patient couldn't access care,\u201d said Dr. Miller-Meeks. \"Hepatitis C is beatable. We have the tools to eliminate it, and this bill puts them within reach of the Americans who need them most. This is a commonsense, fiscally responsible effort that will save lives and save taxpayer dollars. I am proud to lead it alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the tireless efforts of biomedical researchers and innovators, Hepatitis C is curable. Yet far too many people remain undiagnosed or unable to access treatment, and dozens die from the disease every day,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cThis is simply unacceptable. We have the tools to stop this epidemic and curb the human and financial costs of this disease going untreated. I am pleased to work with my colleagues on legislation that will have the greatest positive impact to public health this Congress.\u201d\n\nThe nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the bill saving $6.6 billion over the next decade.\n\nHepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver swelling and inflammation. It can lead to serious liver damage, even death if untreated. It affects millions of Americans each year. More than half of untreated infections progress to chronic hepatitis C, which can cause life-threatening conditions. Hepatitis A and B pose similar risks but have preventative vaccines that considerably decrease their impact. Hepatitis C requires post-diagnostic treatment that can be difficult to attain. People covered under Medicaid were 46 percent less likely to receive treatment than those with private insurance, and only 1 of 3 of those with insurance received timely treatment.\n\nThe Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 would ensure that every American has timely access to screening, vaccination services, and linkage to care to address hepatitis through the following provisions:\n\n-- Establishing a dedicated HCV Elimination Program and national strategy;\n\nCreating a subscription-based drug procurement program to supply curative antiviral treatments at scale;\n\n-- Expanding access to treatment for underserved, high-risk, uninsured, tribal, correctional, and vulnerable populations;\n\n-- Funding a broad expansion of screening, diagnostics, outreach, public health infrastructure, provider training, and wrap-around services;\n\n-- Removing or reducing financial and administrative barriers (cost-sharing, prior authorization) for patients;", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-introduces-historic-bill-fight-hepatitis-c"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0000141337513924, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}