[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 32609-32610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12306]



[[Page 32607]]

Vol. 81

Monday,

No. 99

May 23, 2016

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9450--National Hepatitis Testing Day, 2016



Executive Order 13729--A Comprehensive Approach to Atrocity Prevention 
and Response
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 99 / Monday, May 23, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 32609]]

                Proclamation 9450 of May 18, 2016

                
National Hepatitis Testing Day, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In the United States, hepatitis A, B, and C are the 
                most common types of viral hepatitis--affecting between 
                3.5 and 6.9 million people and claiming the lives of 
                thousands of our fellow Americans each year. Because of 
                the persistent efforts of researchers, advocates, and 
                so many others in the medical and public health 
                communities, we have made great strides in advancing 
                treatment of and finding cures for viral hepatitis. 
                Individuals living with hepatitis B and C can only 
                benefit from these advances if they are tested and made 
                aware of their disease. On National Hepatitis Testing 
                Day, we reaffirm the importance of educating people 
                about viral hepatitis, and we encourage individuals at 
                risk for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to get tested.

                More than half of Americans living with viral hepatitis 
                are unaware of their infection status. This lack of 
                awareness contributes to an increasing number of 
                infections and deaths that could be prevented by people 
                receiving the care and treatment they need. When left 
                undiagnosed and untreated, viral hepatitis can cause 
                serious damage to the liver--it is the leading cause of 
                liver cancer and the most common reason for liver 
                transplantation. Symptoms of viral hepatitis can go 
                undetected for many years, which is why it is important 
                to receive vaccines for hepatitis A and B, and blood 
                tests for hepatitis B and C--measures that can be life-
                saving for those living with this disease. I urge all 
                Americans to visit www.CDC.gov/Hepatitis for more 
                information.

                Prevention and early detection are key to combating 
                viral hepatitis, and my Administration remains 
                dedicated to ensuring all Americans have access to the 
                quality, affordable health care they deserve. The 
                Affordable Care Act requires coverage of recommended 
                services that can help prevent, detect, and treat viral 
                hepatitis_including viral hepatitis vaccinations and 
                testing. In addition, the Act prohibits insurers from 
                denying coverage to anyone with a preexisting 
                condition, like viral hepatitis. We have also released 
                a roadmap for ensuring our Federal efforts to address 
                viral hepatitis are coordinated and focused on making 
                more people living with viral hepatitis aware of their 
                status. The Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and 
                Treatment of Viral Hepatitis, available at www.HHS.gov/Hepatitis Hepatitis, spans more than 20 Federal entities and it 
                moves us toward increasing the number of people who are 
                aware of their infection status, reducing the number of 
                new cases of hepatitis C, and eliminating the 
                transmission of hepatitis B between mother and child.

                I have proposed funding to support a new initiative 
                aimed at expanding testing and access to treatment of 
                hepatitis C for people living with HIV and to advance 
                efforts to eliminate hepatitis C transmission and 
                deaths. Those living with HIV are more vulnerable to 
                viral hepatitis infections, and African Americans, 
                Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American 
                Indians and Alaska Natives are also disproportionately 
                affected. Viral hepatitis infections, particularly 
                among young people, can be reduced by addressing the 
                heroin epidemic and abuse of prescription opioids--a 
                priority for my Administration--and by ensuring that 
                individuals who inject drugs have

[[Page 32610]]

                access to treatment services for HIV, viral hepatitis, 
                and substance use disorders. We have taken action to 
                expand access to treatment and increase community 
                prevention strategies so more Americans can get the 
                help they need.

                On this day, let us rededicate ourselves to ensuring 
                all people with viral hepatitis know their infection 
                status and have access to necessary care and resources. 
                Let us honor those we have lost too soon, and let us 
                recognize the many individuals working tirelessly to 
                address this disease, develop treatments, and save 
                lives.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 19, 2016, as 
                National Hepatitis Testing Day. I encourage citizens, 
                Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and 
                communities across the Nation to join in activities 
                that will increase awareness about viral hepatitis and 
                the need for expanded testing.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-12306
Filed 5-20-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P