Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a proven tool for drastically reducing an individual’s risk of HIV infection. Unfortunately, this daily pill – also commonly known as Truvada – can be cost prohibitive, especially for those without health insurance. To make this life-saving drug available to all who need it, a statewide Drug Assistance Program (DAP) is now available across Massachusetts to income-eligible residents.
Piloted by the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA), the PrEP DAP covers the costs of medication co-pays and deductibles for clients who have insurance and provides financial assistance for accessing PrEP to uninsured individuals, including insurance enrollment assistance. The program is administered by Community Research Initiative of New England (CRI), a community-based organization that also administers the Massachusetts HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP).
“We are hopeful this resource will expand access to PrEP for Massachusetts’ residents who may benefit from this important HIV prevention opportunity,” wrote H. Dawn Fukuda, Sc.M., Director, Office of HIV/AIDS at the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, in the official DAP announcement. “Information about PrEP DAP, including income and other eligibility criteria, and a copy of the program application can be found at PrEP DAP.”
For additional information on PrEP, including how it works and other resources on accessing PrEP, please visit the Talk PrEP website.