WHEREAS, over four million Americans are infected with viral hepatitis, which is a major public health problem that causes chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer; and

WHEREAS, populations at risk of viral hepatitis infection within the Commonwealth include recipients of blood transfusions prior to 1992, Vietnam veterans, HIV-positive individuals, children born to mothers infected with viral hepatitis, and health care providers exposed to communicable viral hepatitis; and

WHEREAS, significant pharmaceutical developments have created expanded treatment options for viral hepatitis; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Preventive Services Task Force have recently issued new guidance for testing, treatment, and prevention of viral hepatitis; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care be directed to study viral hepatitis within the Commonwealth.

In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall (i) identify resources available, and those needed, for testing, treatment, and prevention of viral hepatitis; (ii) ascertain any financial, workforce, legislative, or regulatory factors limiting testing, treatment, and prevention of viral hepatitis; (iii) identify opportunities for integration of viral hepatitis treatment within new or existing HIV-positive treatment programs; and (iv) consult with representatives of the Commonwealth's health care providers, pharmaceutical sector, military community, and other appropriate stakeholders.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Commission on Health Care by the Department of Health, the Department of Health Professions, the Department of Veterans Services, and the Department of Corrections. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Commission on Health Care for this study, upon request.

The Joint Commission on Health Care shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2014, and for the second year by November 30, 2015, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission on Health Care intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.