article_snippet.sent: Nor was he sure whether Senate would support legislation sponsored by House Public Health Committee Chairman Ed Clere, R-New Albany, that would allow the 23 Indiana counties with the highest rate-per-population of hepatitis C to establish the 23 Indiana counties with the highest rate-per-population of hepatitis C own needle-exchange programs.
article_snippet.sent: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 50 percent and 90 percent of people with hepatitis C are also infected with HIV.
article_snippet.sent: Health officials say because of this, high rates of hepatitis C are a key indicator of needle-sharing and a potential HIV outbreak.
article_snippet.sent: The House approved high rates of hepatitis C on April 7 in a 54-39 vote, and the measure is scheduled for a hearing on Monday in a House-Senate conference committee, which will try to work out a final version for lawmakers to consider before the Legislature's April 29 adjournment deadline.