WASHINGTON — The Arizona Department of Corrections is promising a federal judge that it will dramatically increase the number of incarcerated people it tests and treats for hepatitis C.
In a court filing Friday, the department outlined a plan to clear its backlog of incarcerated people waiting to be treated for the virus. Under the plan, Arizona promises to treat at least 110 people each month who have been awaiting treatment, as well as at least 70% of all people who newly tested positive for the virus in the last month.
The department is also pledging to initiate a massive testing drive to catch new cases. Under the agreement, it will offer testing to every prisoner who doesn’t have a test on file. It will also test all new prisoners within a month of their arrival, unless the person objects.
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