PCORI Announces $50 million in Hepatitis C Research Funding

Corinna Dann R.N., M.P.H., Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) research recently received a significant boost with a commitment of up to $50 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies on the best ways to diagnose and treat HCV infection. PCORI posted application materials earlier this month and announced a May 5, 2015 application deadline.
Read more: PCORI Announces $50 million in Hepatitis C Research Funding
More Governors Embrace Medicaid Expansion, But With Changes

Ryan Silvey, Missouri State Senate, 17th District
When Indiana became the latest state to expand its Medicaid program, the reaction across the health advocacy community was decidedly mixed. While the decision represented yet another step toward a goal of expanding government-funded health insurance to millions of lower-income Americans, it came at a price — one some advocates say may be too expensive to pay.
Read more: More Governors Embrace Medicaid Expansion, But With Changes
How Obamacare Went South In Mississippi, Part 8: Obamacare 2.0

Dr. Tim Alford in his clinic in the central Mississippi town of Kosciusko. The hospital across the street has had to lay off staff and shutter its I.C.U.
In the country's unhealthiest state, the failure of Obamacare is a group effort. Go here to read Part 7. This is the final installment.
With the sophomore year of open enrollment for the health law quickly approaching, Mississippi remains hostile territory as Gov. Bryant continues to steadfastly oppose the law. "Prior to Obamacare, the individual insurance market was a more viable option for people who did not have access to group health insurance," he said in a statement. "By design, the law gutted the market and replaced it with the heavily regulated, astronomically expensive but often heavily publicly subsidized individual policies."
Read more: How Obamacare Went South In Mississippi, Part 8: Obamacare 2.0
In This Issue

On Sunday the health care marketplace at Healthcare.gov closed for this year. We thank all of you who helped people connect with health insurance and trust that you signed up for the coverage you need.
President's FY'16 Budget: HIV/AIDS

Copies of President Barack Obama's proposed 2016 budget are displayed for sale at the Government Printing Office in Washington February 2, 2015
Editor's Note: President Obama released his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal. The White House issued this fact sheet to highlight the budget's investment in domestic HIV/AIDS activities across federal departments and agencies.