The Southern AIDS Coalition shares its recent analysis on HIV/AIDS processes, approaches, and strategies for the south.
The Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC) just shared a report on PrEP to help fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. PrEP, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, is a type of medicine used to help prevent people from getting HIV, which is what causes HIV/AIDS.
Since 2019, the US Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) strategy has committed to eliminating HIV/AIDS cases by 90% by 2030. Access to PrEP is a central piece of what can be the overall success of that goal. Here, we’ll break down the key findings of the SAC/Prep4All study to help you break down the scope.
Read the full Toward PrEP Access for All Report
Barriers to HIV/AIDS Coverage and Care
For the US Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) policy to be successful, half of individuals who need PrEP (or at least 50%) must receive it by 2025. Unfortunately, this SAC study found some significant barriers to that.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in 2023 showing that the number of prescriptions for PrEP had gone up from 23% in 2019 to 36% in 2021. However, that same report showed there were far fewer prescriptions among Black and Latine/x communities than their white counterparts due to a lack of accessibility to HIV/AIDS coverage and care.
A Closer Look at Medicaid and Medical Coverage
To end the HIV epidemic, equal access to HIV treatment and protection, such as PrEP, is necessary. According to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), most health plans must cover preventive services, such as PrEP, at low or no cost. However, an ongoing lawsuit attempts to challenge this, claiming the ACA requirement violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
We also must consider uninsured and underinsured people in need of care. PrEP access is not as readily available to these groups, which are typically already a part of communities that face a range of barriers to preventive services, as well as face high levels of anti-HIV and anti-gay stigma, poverty, racism, gender bias, homophobia, and transphobia.
Strategies to Overcome the Lack of PrEP Accessibility
The SAC report urges organizations, lawmakers, and advocates to develop communications materials and channels to build “provider awareness” about PrEP coverage, stating, “Provider outreach and awareness is key.”
The National PrEP Plan Working Group has also addressed ongoing misinformation leading to confusion, which drives prescribers and PrEP users to “opt for more costly branded medications” when they might actually have more affordable and accessible options.
Check out the the Southern AIDS Coalition report here >>>
