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Hepatitis C testing/cure program asks committee to preserve state funding not intended to be supplanted by opioid settlement grants
Summary
Representatives of Imagine Hope told the committee the amended FY25 language replaces a $375,000 state appropriation with other funds; the program asked that state funding be restored because opioid settlement dollars awarded to the program were never intended to supplant day‑to‑day state support for the hepatitis C testing and cure initiative.
TJ Caplan, representing Imagine Hope, briefed the committee on a hepatitis C testing and treatment program that operates in behavioral‑health sites around the state and asked that the committee retain $375,000 in state funding in the amended FY25 package.
Caplan said Imagine Hope has worked in 32 behavioral‑health sites and has helped cure about 950 Georgians of hepatitis C using patient‑assistance programs to reduce drug costs, and that the $375,000 in state funds supports ongoing operations and patient navigation. He said opioid settlement funds awarded to the program (two tranches totaling $250,000) were intended to supplement training and special activities and were not meant to replace the regular state appropriation that pays for day‑to‑day operations and coordination.
Caplan asked the committee to restore the $375,000 state appropriation to ensure the program can continue testing and link patients to curative therapy at no cost to the state’s Medicaid program via patient assistance resources.
Ending: Caplan emphasized the program’s cure counts and operational reach and requested the committee restore the state appropriation in the amended FY25 package rather than letting settlement dollars supplant the recurring appropriation.
