N.J. state senator calls out organizations opposed to Hepatitis C screening legislation

New Jersey’s Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee has approved legislation requiring hospitals and physicians to screen patients born between 1945 and 1965 for Hepatitis C. It was a bill both the New Jersey Hospital Association and the Medical Society of New Jersey opposed, and committee chairman State Sen. Joseph Vitale said the organizations “ought to be ashamed of themselves,” according to a report from NJ.com.

As the story explains, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established guidelines recommending such screenings because Hepatitis C could lead to liver disease, cancer, or cirrhosis.

The New Jersey Hospital Association opposed the bill, saying such testing should be kept in doctors’ offices, but did agree that the testing is important. The Medical Society of New Jersey said the bill “opposes unfunded mandates.”

Click below to read the full story from NJ.com:

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.