#stop aids

Keith Haring

“Uninsured Americans can now apply for free PrEP drugs through the federal government.

The Department of Health and Human Services Tuesday launched Ready, Set, PrEP, a national program to distribute medications used for pre-exposure prophylaxis, a strategy to prevent HIV-negative people from becoming infected with the virus.

Truvada and Descovy, both manufactured by Gilead Sciences, are the only drugs approved for use as PrEP. Gilead announced earlier this year that it would donate 2.4 million bottles of Truvada to 200,000 uninsured people each year for 11 years through a partnership with HHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HHS announced the details of applying for free PrEP drugs Tuesday. It has set up a new website, GetYourPrEP.com, and it will take applications there or at a toll-free phone number, (855) 447-8410. To qualify, a person must test negative for HIV, have a valid prescription for the medications, and not have prescription drug coverage.

Three major drugstore chains, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS Health, have donated their prescribing services for the program, and they will have the medications available no later than March 30 of next year. They will also provide patient counseling services and promote adherence to the drug regimen — for maximum effectiveness, making it virtually impossible to acquire the virus, the medication must be taken daily. These companies have 21,000 locations throughout the nation, representing one-third of pharmacies in the U.S. They will fill prescriptions by mail order as well as in person.”