Bill · S. 1941· Senate(119-S-1941)
Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/4/2025
- Last activity
- 6/4/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Cassidy
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 aims to eliminate the hepatitis C virus in the United States through a coordinated national program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish a Hepatitis C Elimination Program to implement a national strategy focused on prevention, detection, and treatment. A central component is a subscription program that allows the government to purchase hepatitis C treatments to be distributed to specific populations without cost-sharing. This includes individuals in Medicaid, CHIP, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Indian Health Service. The bill also provides for various public health awards to support screening, diagnosis, and community-based care. Additionally, it modifies Medicare to eliminate cost-sharing for certain direct acting antiviral drugs.
Yes· 3 of 11
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+8
The act significantly expands access to hepatitis C screening, diagnosis, and treatment through a national elimination program.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+7
The bill provides hepatitis C treatments without cost-sharing for those on Medicaid and CHIP.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+7
The bill provides hepatitis C treatments through the Indian Health Service.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Elimination of Cost-Sharing for Treatments: Individuals within the "covered population"—including those on Medicaid, CHIP, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Indian Health Service—can receive hepatitis C treatments without paying out-of-pocket costs (Section 4(b)(1)(A)(ii)).
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Medicare Benefit Improvements: For plan years 2027 through 2031, Medicare Part D beneficiaries will not have to pay deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing for direct acting antiviral drugs used to treat hepatitis C (Section 7(a)(1)(A)).
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Increased Access via Public Health Awards: The bill provides funding for states and various entities, such as community health centers and tribal health programs, to improve outreach, screening, and treatment access (Section 5(a)(2) and Section 5(b)).
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Support for High-Volume Facilities: The Secretary can provide advance stock of hepatitis C treatments to facilities that serve high volumes of patients in need (Section 4(b)(5)(C)).
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Care Continuity for Incarcerated Individuals: Participating state or local correctional systems must provide the remainder of a hepatitis C treatment course and a referral to ongoing care upon an individual's release (Section 4(3)(A)(iv)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Drug Discount Programs: Health care providers, pharmacies, and dispensing sites are prohibited from using other Federal drug discount programs, such as the 340B program, for hepatitis C treatments obtained through this new program (Section 4(b)(1)(B)(i)).
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Eligibility Limitations: The use of funds for these services is restricted to specific groups, such as U.S. citizens and certain legally admitted aliens, which may exclude other individuals residing in the United States (Section 10).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Native Americans+7Good For Retirees+6Good For Seniors+6Good For Children+5Good For Immigrants+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+8Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5Increases Medicare Funding+5Improves Opioid Crisis Response+3
- 6/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland