Universal Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Among Adults in the U.S.

The CDC’s new policy recommends one-time Hepatitis C screening for all adults to catch hidden infections early and link patients to life-saving treatment.

THE DILEMMA

The universal Hepatitis C screening policy sparks debate over cost, access, and whether everyone can get treatment after testing positive.

Change in Hepatitis C Screening Policy.

Hepatitis C is often called a “silent epidemic” because most people who carry the virus show no symptoms for years. Untreated, it can lead to serious liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Traditionally, only people with risk factors like previous intravenous drug use, blood transfusions before 1992, or high-risk behaviors were tested. But studies revealed that millions of adults were living with Hepatitis C without knowing it. To address this, the CDC implemented a universal one-time screening policy for all adults aged 18 and older. The goal is simple: identify infections early, connect patients to curative antiviral treatment, and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. This proactive approach marks a shift from reactive medicine to population-level prevention. However, the policy is not without controversy. Critics raise concerns about the cost of testing millions of adults, the ethics of screening people regardless of risk, and whether everyone diagnosed will actually have access to treatment. Despite these debates, the policy has enormous potential to save lives, prevent liver disease, and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Early detection and treatment for Hepatitis C are now more possible than ever, representing a real win for public health.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Universal Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults and Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection.” April 23 2024. CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Recommendations for Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults — United States, 2020.” MMWR 69(No. RR‑2):1–17. April 10 2020.