The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued a draft recommendation to upgrade screening for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in non-pregnant adolescents and adults at high risk for infection from a “D” recommendation to a “B” recommendation. Persons considered at high risk for HBV infection include persons from high-prevalence countries, persons who are HIV-positive, injection drug users, household contacts of persons with HBV infection, and men who have sex with men. The significance of the upgrade to a “B” recommendation is that all “A” and “B” recommendations for screening are to be offered by health plans without co-payments under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The recommendation is based on a detailed review of clinical evidence.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has prepared a fact sheet explaining the draft recommendation:
Public comments on the draft recommendation are due on March 10, 2014 and may be submitted online.
Ignatius Bau 