{"id":19168,"date":"2021-04-27T14:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/?page_id=19168"},"modified":"2021-04-27T18:02:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T18:02:51","slug":"health-advisory-council-newsletter-spring-2021-member-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/health-advisory-council-newsletter-spring-2021-member-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Advisory Council Newsletter | Spring 2021 | Member spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-k941ur2y-073151a68b06a10c493ad5ad5242604d\">\n.avia-section.av-k941ur2y-073151a68b06a10c493ad5ad5242604d{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/77_dsp7890_lr.jpg);\nbackground-position:top center;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n.avia-section.av-k941ur2y-073151a68b06a10c493ad5ad5242604d .av-section-color-overlay{\nopacity:0.5;\nbackground-color:#000000;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-k941ur2y-073151a68b06a10c493ad5ad5242604d main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-section-color-overlay-active  av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-50  container_wrap sidebar_right'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='50'><div class='av-section-color-overlay-wrap'><div class=\"av-section-color-overlay\"><\/div><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-19168'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-knzba09v-77318109b1e09aeffa0c14d9ca60aa28\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-knzba09v-77318109b1e09aeffa0c14d9ca60aa28{\npadding-bottom:10px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\nfont-size:30px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-knzba09v-77318109b1e09aeffa0c14d9ca60aa28 .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-knzba09v-77318109b1e09aeffa0c14d9ca60aa28 av-special-heading-h3 custom-color-heading blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  banner-heading av-inherit-size '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Health Advisory Council Newsletter | Spring 2021<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border'><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-19168'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div  class='hr av-12orq80-f88a27af348b9c7917d687ecec20bd53 hr-default  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-495befe5acbf83afee58a37ac9f96b9c\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-495befe5acbf83afee58a37ac9f96b9c{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-495befe5acbf83afee58a37ac9f96b9c av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Member Spotlight: Hepatitis B Foundation<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border'><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-k93u74-aa27d44217120760b9bb62b1790fc4c7 hr-default  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_two_third  '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-ji4vs-66368f11a8e9d112eea0c52112612ec4\">\n#top .flex_column.av-ji4vs-66368f11a8e9d112eea0c52112612ec4{\nborder-radius:0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px;\npadding:0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-ji4vs-66368f11a8e9d112eea0c52112612ec4 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '   ><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h4>Meet Michaela Jackson<\/h4>\n<h4><em><strong>Prevention Policy Manager<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-kbhy9wxh-b42781375d27fcc2430a2749f234e026\">\n.togglecontainer.av-kbhy9wxh-b42781375d27fcc2430a2749f234e026 p.toggler{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nbackground-color:#6eaede;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.togglecontainer.av-kbhy9wxh-b42781375d27fcc2430a2749f234e026 p.toggler .toggle_icon{\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.togglecontainer.av-kbhy9wxh-b42781375d27fcc2430a2749f234e026 .toggle_wrap .toggle_content{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nbackground-color:#6eaede;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='togglecontainer av-kbhy9wxh-b42781375d27fcc2430a2749f234e026 av-minimal-toggle  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  accordion-section toggle_close_all ' >\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-24glrwg-851e9b23333229a2459ae31316b3c702'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-1' class='toggler hasCustomColor  av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-1'>Q: How long have you been at Hepatitis B Foundation and what do you love most about your job?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-1' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>A: I have been with the Foundation for three years. As the Prevention Policy Manager, I focus on policy priorities that address hepatitis B and liver cancer prevention through policy development, research, and partnerships. The work is incredibly rewarding! My favorite part of the job is knowing that we can positively impact the lives of so many. Hepatitis B is a disease that disproportionately impacts several vulnerable and disenfranchised groups in the United States: Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African Immigrants, sexual and gender minorities, and people who inject drugs. There is a significant lack of awareness about hepatitis B and who it impacts, so helping to provide a platform for these communities to share their concerns and create meaningful policy change is an incredible opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-1jy3p4w-a6e7cb49ee2e84536c2ee813e026fee7'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-2' class='toggler hasCustomColor  av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-2'>Q. What are the biggest challenges facing Hepatitis B Foundation today? (COVID and beyond)<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-2' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>A. Currently, one of the largest problems that the Hepatitis B Foundation is facing is funding for viral hepatitis services. The U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services recently released the National Viral Hepatitis Strategic Plan, which discusses comprehensive strategies to eliminate viral hepatitis in the United States. Unfortunately, viral hepatitis remains underfunded, which makes it difficult to address key issues.<\/p>\n<p>Another major challenge is discrimination. In the US, students applying to or attending health profession schools may be denied entry or have their offers rescinded based upon their hepatitis B status. Additionally, current Department of Defense (DOD) policy does not permit enlistees or applicants with hepatitis B to serve in the U.S. Uniformed Services or participate in DOD educational or scholarship programs. Although people living with hepatitis B are protected from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), outdated policies that are not aligned with recent evidence-based science or the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) recommendations encourage stigma and prevent people living with hepatitis B from fulfilling their dreams.<\/p>\n<p>COVID-19 has also been challenging for our communities. Many essential preventative services by partner community organizations, such as free vaccination and testing, have been reduced or put on hold because they required close contact and inadequate funding to adapt to the pandemic. While our partners have been quick to find unique and innovative ways to serve their populations, better public health and immunization infrastructure is essential for sustainable equitable access to hepatitis B care.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-av_toggle-e0475d10d4928209ebb064a661c89a76'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-3' class='toggler hasCustomColor  av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-3'>Q. What new developments in the health policy space is Hepatitis B Foundation looking forward to addressing? <span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-3' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>A. Right now, we are focused on the CDC\u2019s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices\u2019 upcoming decision on a recommendation for universal adult hepatitis B vaccination. If the Committee votes in favor of the recommendation, it would be a great win for the hepatitis B community! We are also looking forward to the CDC\u2019s upcoming analysis on the feasibility of universal screening guidelines for hepatitis B. Data shows that the current risk-based screening guidelines are problematic for both providers and the patient, and we look forward to advocacy opportunities supporting updated vaccination and screening guidelines. To stay up to date on our policy initiatives and advocacy opportunities, you can sign up for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hepbunited.org\/advocacy\/overview\/\">Action Alerts<\/a> in our action center!<\/p>\n<p>One more policy issue we are looking to address is hepatitis B treatment access. Despite the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies have found ways to use cost-sharing systems to force people living with hepatitis B to pay more out of pocket. In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hepb.org\/assets\/PDFs\/1Drug-Tiering-Consumer-Report-10.27.2020-Final-1.pdf\">analysis<\/a> of health insurance plans in 14 states, we found that many states contain plans that participate in discriminatory practices that made it more difficult for people living with hepatitis B to afford their medications. This year, we plan to increase awareness around the issue and provide patients with the proper resources to take action.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-av_toggle-b36ee5b8d787107f0b5d31d2d5ee3093'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-4' class='toggler hasCustomColor  av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-4'>Q. What Hepatitis B Foundation initiatives would you like to share with the Council? <span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-4' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-font-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>A. April 30 is National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day! In recognition, the Hepatitis B Foundation is hosting a congressional briefing on April 29<sup>th<\/sup> at 3PM ET. The briefing is in partnership with the National Consumers League, the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition, The AIDS Institute, the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and Representative Grace Meng (NY-06) will be providing remarks. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_JALLB3_KTyC9EKaOS4s_DQ\">register here<\/a>. Representative Hank Johnson will be also reintroducing a resolution in the House of Representatives to designate April 30th as \u201cNational Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day,\u201d which was last introduced in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>The Hepatitis B Foundation also has national and international storyteller programs. The programs, titled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hepb.org\/research-and-programs\/patient-story-telling-project\/\">#justB<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hepb.org\/blog\/voice-story-bank-launch\/\">B The Voice<\/a>, respectively, aim to raise the profile of hepatitis B as an urgent public health priority and help put a human face on this serious disease by sharing stories of real people living with or affected by hepatitis B by sharing real stories of people living with or impacted by hepatitis B. They are available in English and the storytellers\u2019 native languages, and are great resources to share with vulnerable communities to increase awareness, decrease stigma and discrimination, and promote testing, vaccination, linkage to care, and treatment!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-8jyao-093080a8eb53a75b5cc65d0d2374c7c2\">\n#top .flex_column.av-8jyao-093080a8eb53a75b5cc65d0d2374c7c2{\nborder-radius:0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px;\npadding:0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-8jyao-093080a8eb53a75b5cc65d0d2374c7c2 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '   ><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"style-css-av-kbhy6q5i-1dbbf3d2f818489c59554068447876cc\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kbhy6q5i-1dbbf3d2f818489c59554068447876cc .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kbhy6q5i-1dbbf3d2f818489c59554068447876cc av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-9  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-19169 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-19169 avia_image' src=\"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-300x300.jpg\" alt='' title='Michaela Jackson, Hepatitis B Foundation'  height=\"300\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-1030x1030.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-1500x1500.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo-705x705.jpg 705w, https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MJackson-photo.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19168"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19168"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20513,"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19168\/revisions\/20513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}