The Hepatitis C Virus
Correctional Institution Fact Sheet:
- About 40% of the 2.2 million prisoners in the United States are infected with HCV, with rates of infection as high as 80% in some prisons, compared with just 2 percent of the general population.
- Intravenous drug use is the most common method of transmission of HCV. More than 57% of state prisoners report using drugs in the month prior to their arrest.
- Although several correction departments around the states have made some strides towards the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) epidemic behind the prison walls, they are still slow in treating HCV positive inmates mainly because of treatment cost.
- The cost of medication for just one inmate for a single year ranges from an estimated low of $12,000 to $15,000 in New York.
- Not every HCV positive person is a candidate for treatment.
- When looking at the possible results of non treatment such as advanced stage liver disease, need for a live transplant and other serious condition the costs of treatment becomes more reasonable.
- Prisoners have a right to request the hepatitis C primary care practice guidelines. The guidelines represent the current state of knowledge regarding treatment agents for the management of hepatitis C, and informs you of the following: Acute & chronic hepatitis C - Screening - Diagnosis - Reporting - Monitoring of disease course-Consideration for treatment - Special treatment issues - Treatment regimen - Treatment consent form.
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