Public Information Kit - Hepatitis C Initiative Frequently Asked Questions; Current Hepatitis C Services; Components; Awards and Recognitions; History of Legislation; History of Implementation; and Hepattis C State Workgroup History and Development.
The Texas Hepatitis C Initiative
Texas is facing a silent epidemic of hepatitis C (HCV), which is a leading cause of liver disease. An estimated 300,000 Texans (about 1.5 percent of the population) are infected with HCV, and most of them do not know it. About 40 percent of all chronic liver disease is due to HCV infection. HCV can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Faced with this challenge, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) established the hepatitis C initiative.
The Texas Hepatitis C Initiative was the first statewide effort in the nation to address hepatitis C in a comprehensive and integrated manner. In early 1998, Texas formed the first statewide hepatitis C workgroup, involving key stakeholders who drew up the state's white paper ( PDF File: 61.9KB) to address the emerging epidemic. In 1999, the white paper led to model legislation, House Bill 1652, an Act known as the Education and Prevention Program for Hepatitis C, passed by the 76 th Legislature. The Act encompassed five components, which are the basis for the Texas hepatitis C initiative.
Flowchart depicting the origins and components of H.B. 1652 
The Act required the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to (1) conduct seroprevalence studies to estimate the current and future impact of hepatitis C on the state, (2) offer HCV counseling and testing services, (3) provide HCV training to counselors, (4) offer HCV education to health care professionals, and (5) conduct public awareness, education, and outreach activities.
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