A new study published in Gastro Hep Advances underscores the potential risks for the 2 million Americans living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) if the Supreme Court overturns provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that mandate no-cost preventative services.
Key takeaways:
- HCV prevalence has more than doubled in the past decade and is projected to continue rising.
- While HCV is curable, screening rates are low, especially among low-income populations, who are five times more likely to have the virus.
- Untreated HCV can lead to severe complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- The 2020 United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendation for universal, one-time screening for all adults aged 18 and older — covered without cost-sharing under the ACA — significantly increased screening rates:
- Among pregnant women: from 141 to 253 per 1,000 person-years.
- Among nonpregnant women: from 29 to 37 per 1,000 person-years.
- This surge in screening contributed to the first decline in acute HCV cases in over a decade in 2022.
AGA is also deeply concerned about the impact of this case on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and prevention. In 2025, more than 150,000 people will be diagnosed with CRC, and over 50,000 people will die from the disease.
AGA awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Kennedy v. Braidwood case and will communicate with members as soon as there is an update.
