Joe.My.God. LGBT News
STAT News reports:
In a bid to bolster a campaign to end HIV transmission in the United States, the Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will provide free pre-exposure prophylaxis — known as PrEP — for people at risk of contracting the virus who do not have prescription drug coverage.
PrEP, which is taken daily, has been shown to be highly effective at preventing infection, but the drugs are expensive and too few people at risk use them. The program, called “Ready, Set, PrEP,” was announced by Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services.
“Ready, Set, PrEP is a historic expansion of access to HIV prevention medication and a major step forward in President Trump’s plan to end the HIV epidemic in America,” Azar said in a statement. “Thanks to Ready, Set, PrEP, thousands of Americans who are at risk for HIV will now be able to protect themselves and their communities.”
Today @HHSGov launched Ready, Set, #PrEP campaign which should help to increase access to #PrEP for individuals who lack prescription drug coverage, don’t know details but sounds promising. You can find out more about eligibility here: https://t.co/xaYpTfeqqP or 855-447-8410
— Alicia Ventura (@AliciaSVentura) December 3, 2019
PrEP is highly effective at preventing #HIV infection but too few people who should be on it use it. The administration is aiming to change that: It’s going to pay for the price of drugs for people without prescription drug coverage. https://t.co/6vpuukhnxC
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) December 3, 2019
The Ready, Set, PrEP program makes #PrEP medication available at no cost for qualifying recipients. Find out if you qualify and enroll by visiting https://t.co/sAWTTlzsQa or call 855-447-8410. pic.twitter.com/tl2H4YeYxr
— HPTN (@HIVptn) December 3, 2019
On a call now with Secretary Azar on the HHS announcement to provide free PrEP under the new “Ready, Set, PrEP” initiative, which he calls “a major health initiative of the 21st century.”
“We have the tools to stop HIV in its tracks, now it’s execution,” Azar says.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) December 3, 2019
Azar says new CDC report finds only 1.8 percent of people at risk for contracting HIV are on PrEP. “Ready, Set, PrEP” seeks to fix that.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) December 3, 2019
Azar says other health programs exist to provide to PrEP, but the new initiative is at a “totally different scale.” Among other things, it’s at a national level and doesn’t involve co-pays.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) December 3, 2019
Azar dodges my Q on whether it’s disingenuous to promote an HIV initiative after promoting religious freedom initiatives critics say will allow refusal of treatment.
Instead, Azar touts HIV plan as Trump’s initiative, says previous administration had tools but didn’t use them.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) December 3, 2019
Azar says lab costs and HIV diagnosis not part of free PrEP program, but those services can be provided at community health centers.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) December 3, 2019