No plans exist to treat hepatitis C in prison

Conceding that 41 percent of inmates are infected with the potentially
fatal hepatitis C virus, state officials told lawmakers in Sacramento on
Tuesday that there is no quickfix plan for addressing the problem.

At an interim hearing by the Senate Public Safety Subcommittee on Prison
Construction and Operations, Sen. Richard Polanco, DLos Angeles, grilled
officials from the state health and corrections departments about why there
is no plan for screening and treatment for hepatitis C.

Health department officials said they are awaiting development of a
national plan.