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PrEP prescriptions reach over a third of potential beneficiaries
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can almost totally eliminate a person’s risk for contracting the virus, and 1 out of 3 people who could benefit got a prescription last year
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released preliminary data that found 36 percent of people who could benefit from taking PrEP received a prescription in 2022.
Those who can benefit are groups who have been most impacted by the HIV epidemic, including gay/bisexual men; transgender women; Black and Hispanic/Latino people; Black cisgender women; and people who inject drugs.
Jonathan Mermin, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said ongoing outreach and updated rules likely contributed to the increased uptake.
“There’s been a lot of effort from community-based organizations, from health departments, from CDC and other federal agencies to expand PrEP use for the people who would benefit, and in 2021 we updated our guidance for providers to discuss PrEP with sexually active adolescents and adults and to provide PrEP to anyone who does request it,” said Mermin.
Disparities continue to be observed, however. A significantly higher proportion of white people who could benefit from PrEP received a prescription when compared to people of color.
Biden administration officials are hoping the ongoing appropriations talks in Congress result in more funding for the CDC’s HIV initiative to better address issues like disparate PrEP use.
The administration has requested $850 million for 2024, the same amount that was requested last year, though Congress ultimately allocated $573 million.
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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