ATLANTA – State Representative Mickey Stephens (D-Savannah) attended an informational meeting this week hosted by State Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge) on the developments in the spread, prevention and treatment for the hepatitis C virus in Georgia.
“Hepatitis C is a growing health concern in Georgia, therefore I was pleased to learn at Tuesday’s informational meeting that new treatment regimens are being offered that have fewer side effects and decrease the likelihood of transmitting the disease to others,” said Rep. Stephens. “I appreciate Senator Burke for putting this panel together to educate us on the medical advancements, and I hope that my constituents will find this information helpful and will be encouraged to further educate themselves about this potentially life-threatening virus.”
Representative Stephens attended the informational meeting on Tuesday, August 12, which featured speakers from the Georgia Department of Community Health, Department of Public Health, Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University and Emory University. The panel discussed progress made in the way of hepatitis C treatments, including decreased treatment time, with most consisting of 12-24 week cycles. The newer treatments also offer fewer side-effects, are available in single tablet options, and are offered through pharmaceutical assistant programs for ease of payment. Finally, an improved insurance coverage and re-imbursement system has offered Georgia’s citizen’s a more efficient way to seek proper testing and treatment for this and other healthcare-related issues.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Hepatitis C virus affects more than 3.2 million individuals nationwide, including an estimated 150,000 Georgians. There is no vaccine available for hepatitis C. The infection is caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation, resulting in cirrhosis of the liver if left untreated. Currently, only 25% of those affected by the virus have been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and with increased treatment options, that number is projected to decline.
The Georgia Department of Public Health offers online resources and toolkits to support Hepatitis C testing in Georgia. For more information on these resources, please click here.
Representative Mickey Stephens represents the citizens of District 165, which includes portions of Chatham County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Insurance, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Regulated Industries, and Ways & Means committees.
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