Viral hepatitis awareness takes center stage twice a year. Hepatitis Awareness Month arrives every May, and World Hepatitis Day follows every July 28th. Whichever moment brings you here, the message is the same: hepatitis can’t wait.
Abarca calls on the healthcare community to take action. Together, we can find the “missing millions”, people living with undiagnosed viral hepatitis, and help them access the treatment and support they need. As a result, through awareness, education, and access to care, we can prevent, diagnose, and treat hepatitis, and ultimately save lives.
What Is Viral Hepatitis? Understanding the “Missing Millions”
Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and in most cases, the cause is a virus. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides comprehensive information about the differences between each type, how they spread, and how they can be prevented and treated.
Here’s a quick recap of the three main types:
- A safe, effective vaccine can prevent Hepatitis A.
- Many people contracted Hepatitis B before the vaccine became widely available.
- Effective treatments are available today that can cure Hepatitis C.
In fact, an estimated 400 million people live with viral hepatitis worldwide, most without knowing it. In the U.S. alone, nearly 2.4 million people live with the hepatitis C virus, the country’s deadliest infectious disease. Despite this, many state Medicaid programs still enforce restrictions that limit access to hepatitis C treatment, slowing progress toward ending the epidemic.
Viral hepatitis awareness starts with understanding these barriers and working to remove them.
Working Together For Better Care and Hepatitis Awareness
Puerto Rico’s Progress in Hepatitis C Treatment Access
Back in 2020, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, a national coalition working to eliminate viral hepatitis, and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School acclaimed Puerto Rico. In fact, both organizations praised the island for removing discriminatory restrictions on hepatitis C treatment. Those restrictions had limited more than one million Puerto Ricans covered by Medicaid from accessing life-saving medications.
In collaborative efforts by the Puerto Rican Health Insurance Administration, Abbvie (a research-driven pharmaceutical company), and Abarca, these discriminatory barriers have significantly decreased. As a result, Puerto Rico’s rating increased to a “B,” and its managed care program now formally includes hepatitis C treatment for all beneficiaries. Increasing access to such treatment will help people of the island eliminate hepatitis C and improve treatment options.
As part of Abarca’s unstoppable commitment to delivering better care to underserved populations. Indeed, this step forward was an excellent milestone for Puerto Rico’s healthcare system.
Abarca is proud to aid in this outstanding achievement and remains committed to the work ahead. In addition, we will continue to work with local and governmental organizations to call attention to viral hepatitis in our communities and support access to the treatment programs needed.
How to Get Involved This Hepatitis Awareness
Hepatitis can’t wait, and neither should you. So, here’s how to get involved:
- Talk to your doctor about hepatitis testing, especially if you may have come into contact with hepatitis.
- Additionally, check your Medicaid or health plan coverage for hepatitis C treatment options available to you.
- Finally, share this information with someone who may not know their status.
To learn more about viral hepatitis and access additional resources, visit the CDC’s hepatitis portal.
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This blog was written by Tony Pérez, Pharm. D., Clinical Pharmacist at Abarca Health.
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About Abarca Health
At Abarca, we believe in an Unstoppable Drive for a Better Way. Our commitment to making healthcare seamless and personalized for all drives us to innovate in AI, specialty pharmacy, and predictive analytics. By transforming challenges into opportunities, we deliver PBM like no one else. Join us in shaping the future at the intersection of technology and care!