Harris Introduces Bill to Dramatically Expand Access to PrEP

Statement

U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Thursday introduced the PrEP Access and Coverage Act, legislation to dramatically expand Americans' access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medication that when taken daily reduces the risk of HIV infection by up to 92%.

HIV disproportionately impacts gay and bisexual men, transgender women, and, in particular, people of color. Members of communities at the intersections of these groups are most heavily impacted. A generic form of PrEP is expected to enter the market in 2020, but the high cost of the medication--combined with out-of-pocket costs for follow-up visits and lab testing--places barriers between PrEP and the more than 1 million people who would most benefit from it.

"PrEP is a critical advancement in the fight against HIV that can finally provide peace of mind to Americans who live in the shadow of the HIV epidemic. But for too many in our country, lack of insurance coverage and steep costs have put PrEP out of reach--and that needs to change," said Harris. "We must truly commit ourselves to HIV prevention by finally requiring every health insurance plan--public and private--to cover PrEP and all of the required tests and follow-up doctors' visits. We must also provide the resources necessary to help people without insurance access PrEP. Nearly four decades since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis that took so many lives and caused countless others to live in fear, we can and will stop the spread of this disease."

On June 11, 2019, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave PrEP an "A" rating as a preventive service. This rating means that private insurance companies will have to cover PrEP without cost-sharing for those individuals by 2021. Harris' legislation goes further by requiring that all private and public insurance plans--including Medicare and Medicaid--cover without a copay not only the drug itself but also all associated doctors' visits, tests, and monitoring recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service.

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