Kamala Harris Unveils Plan To Widen PrEP Availability

Politico reports:

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) released a plan Thursday that would seek to slow the spread of HIV by making a preventive drug more accessible. The plan would require that private and public insurance plans cover PrEP without a copay. In addition, insurance companies would be required to cover any tests related to PrEP.

The bill also would create a grant program, run through the Department of Health and Human Services, that would give money to states, territories or tribes to increase access to the drug for people without insurance. The legislation would allow for $300 million in grants over five years.

The bill would also require that the CDC work with advocacy groups that represent the LGBTQ community and people of color on a public information campaign to raise awareness of the drug. Finally the bill also would make it illegal for life insurance, disability insurance and long-term care insurance companies to charge PrEP users higher premiums.