CHLPI & NVHR Applaud Introduction of Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025

First Major Legislative Effort Towards HCV Elimination Unveiled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Cambridge, MA – 7/28/2025 – The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI) and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) applaud the introduction of the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025. This landmark legislation represents the first major federal legislative effort aimed at eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States, a critical step towards addressing a public health crisis that affects millions.

The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 includes several key provisions designed to dismantle existing barriers to diagnosing and curing HCV and expand access nationwide:

• Treatment Access: The bill would provide treatment without prior authorization for Medicaid recipients, incarcerated persons, and uninsured individuals in states that opt into the program, removing a significant hurdle that has long delayed and denied life-saving care.
• Medicare Cost-Sharing: The bill waives cost-sharing for direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for Medicare beneficiaries, making treatment more affordable and accessible for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Building Capacity: The legislation provides crucial funding to expand HCV testing and treatment capacity across the nation, ensuring that communities have the resources needed to identify and treat individuals living with HCV.

The framework of the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 directly validates the analysis of CHLPI and NVHR’s Hepatitis C: State of Medicaid Access project. This ongoing research has consistently highlighted how prior authorization barriers and other restrictive, clinically unjustified policies continue to suppress treatment uptake, despite the availability of highly effective hepatitis C cures. Our 2025 Report, pending release, shows that many states still maintain these hurdles to care, underscoring the urgent need for federal intervention.

“For too long, bureaucratic barriers like prior authorization have prevented many people living with HCV–especially those from lower income communities where HCV is most prevalent–from accessing curative treatments. This bill directly addresses those inequities, aligning policy with public health imperatives and paving the way for a healthier future free from HCV.” said Elizabeth Kaplan, Director of Health Care Access at CHLPI.  

“This bill is a testament to the power of advocacy and data, directly reflecting the urgent needs we’ve identified through our ‘State of Hep C’ analysis,” added Daniel Raymond, Director of Policy at NVHR. “By removing prior authorization, waiving Medicare cost-sharing, and investing in testing and treatment infrastructure, Congress has the opportunity to save countless lives and truly move us closer to HCV elimination. We urge swift passage and robust implementation.”

The bill is particularly critical in a moment where Medicaid programs are expected to experience significant strains under proposed cuts. The recent passage of the reconciliation bill, which included significant and burdensome changes to Medicaid programs, makes it even more important to address the HCV epidemic and prevent the costly consequences of a curable disease. 

We strongly encourage Congress to commit to passing the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025. This legislation is essential to achieving HCV elimination and ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatment for all.

About the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI):

The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI) advocates for legal, regulatory, and policy reforms to improve the health of marginalized populations, with a focus on the needs of low-income people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. CHLPI works to expand access to high-quality health care; to reduce health disparities; to develop community advocacy capacity; and to promote more equitable and effective health care systems. CHLPI is a clinical teaching program of Harvard Law School and mentors students to become skilled, innovative, and thoughtful practitioners as well as leaders in health and public health law and policy. For more information, visit www.chlpi.org.  

About the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR):

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, an initiative of HEP, is a national coalition fighting for an equitable world free of viral hepatitis. NVHR seeks to eliminate viral hepatitis in the United States and improve the lives of those affected through advocacy, education, and support to national, state and local partners. For more information, visit www.nvhr.org.