Ready, Set, PrEP
Ready, Set, PrEP is a program of the United States [Department of Health and Human Services|U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)] that provides free access to the HIV prevention medication PrEP for thousands of qualifying individuals. The program is a key component of Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative to expand access to PrEP and reduce new HIV diagnoses in the U.S.
Background
During the 2019 [State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address on February 5, 2019], the Donald Trump administration announced the operational plan EHE, which was developed by agencies across HHS to end the HIV epidemic and reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the U.S. by 75% by 2025 and by 90% by 2030.According to Robert Goldstein, MD, over 1 million people at risk for HIV in the United States may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, but fewer than one in four receive it. To address the cost barriers to PrEP, HHS launched Ready, Set, PrEP in December 2019 with the goal of expanding access to those disproportionately impacted by HIV.
- While the number of new HIV diagnoses has declined significantly from their mid-1980s peak of 150,000, this decline has stalled, with an estimated 40,000 Americans newly diagnosed each year. Without intervention, another 400,000 Americans would be newly diagnosed over 10 years despite the available tools to prevent transmissions.
- About 1 in 7 people with HIV are unaware they have the virus.
- Black and Hispanic Americans make up 69% of all new HIV diagnoses.
- A disproportionately low percentage of Black and Hispanic men either are not aware of PrEP, have not discussed PrEP with a health care provider, or have not used PrEP within the past year.
- Fewer than 7% of women who could benefit from PrEP are using it.
- Stigma, fear, discrimination, and homophobia place many people at a higher risk for HIV.
Distribution
Qualifications
The Ready, Set, PrEP program provides access to PrEP medications for free to people who qualify. To receive PrEP through the program, an individual must:- Test negative for HIV;
- Have a valid prescription from their healthcare provider; and
- Not have insurance that covers prescription drugs.