We call upon the New York State legislature to double its commitment to hepatitis C education, prevention, and medical care coordination by increasing hepatitis C funding from $1.19 million in FY 2010 to $2.5 million in FY 2011.

Over 200,000 New Yorkers have hepatitis C and are at risk for serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Liver disease from hepatitis C has become the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. African Americans and Latinos have disproportionately high rates of hepatitis C, and nearly one-third of people living with HIV are also co-infected with hepatitis C.

We request a doubling of state funding to the Department of Health to strengthen the response to this epidemic in five critical areas:

$500,000 for community-based organizations to fund innovative demonstration projects addressing prevention, education, testing, vaccination, access to medical care, support, and training and capacity- building. Priority will be given to populations at high risk and with high rates of hepatitis C, incarcerated populations and to geographic and cultural diversity.

$500,000 for medical care to support a) pilot projects to expand and improve access to hepatitis C care and treatment for underserved populations; b) training, education, support and capacity-building to increase the number of health care providers (including non-specialists) able to offer high-quality care and treatment across various settings, including community health centers, with consideration to geographic diversity and cultural competency.

$500,000 for harm reduction and substance abuse treatment providers to support a) integration of hepatitis C medical services (including testing and treatment) and prevention, education (including peer education), and support; and b) training and capacity-building to increase the number and competency of substance abuse treatment providers in addressing hepatitis C among their clients and patients.

$500,000 for HIV/AIDS service organizations and health care facilities to support a) integration of hepatitis C medical services (including testing and treatment) and prevention, education (including peer education), and support; and b) training and capacity-building to increase the number and competency of community-based HIV organizations and HIV/AIDS health care providers in addressing hepatitis C among their clients and patients.

$500,000 to the New York State Health Department to increase activities to address hepatitis C state-wide, in line with the Viral Hepatitis Strategic Plan and recommendations from the New York State Hepatitis C Advisory Council and other stakeholders on priorities and strategies, with a portion of these funds made available to local/city/county health departments for integration of hepatitis C initiatives and programs; up to 20% of these funds may be allocated towards monitoring and evaluation of the projects funded in other categories.