HIV+Hep in the News

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Biden includes PrEP program in budget, but specifics unclear

by | Mar 11, 2024

“For the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE), which was initiated by former President Trump and continued by President Biden, the budget calls for an increase of only $20 million over FY2023. This contrasts greatly with the $277 million increase proposed last year,” a news release from the HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute says. The budget proposal also says the administration will invest in efforts to “modernize outdated criminal statutes with a with a discriminatory impact on HIV-positive individuals.”

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DOJ withdraws appeal of copay assistance ruling

by | Mar 7, 2024

“We are pleased that the government has withdrawn its appeal of our court victory for patients who struggle to afford their prescription drugs and rely on copay assistance,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “Now, insurers must heed the court ruling by ending their cruel policy of collecting copay assistance and not applying it to patients’ cost-sharing obligations.”

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Is this the future of PrEP?

by | Mar 1, 2024

If those at risk of contracting HIV began taking both a long-acting injectable form of PrEP as well as a daily pill, it could yield enormous results for public health, according to an updated report from the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. The number of HIV cases averted would be 87 percent higher if people were prescribed both the oral and long-acting treatments, compared to using only daily oral PrEP, leading to medical cost savings of $4.25 billion over 10 years; “139,296 person-years of HIV treatment would be averted over ten years,” according to a statement from the Institute. By comparison, assuming only oral PrEP use over a decade, only 74,540 person-years of HIV treatment would be averted, with medical cost savings of $2.27 billion.

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New report finds injectable PrEP could prevent 87% more new HIV cases than oral pills

by | Feb 22, 2024

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute recently released an update on a 2022 report highlighting the potential impact of long-acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) on HIV prevention. According to the findings conducted by RTI International, an independent nonprofit research institute, incorporating long-acting injectable PrEP could lead to an 87% increase in the number of HIV cases averted compared to relying solely on daily oral PrEP. The analysis marks a significant update from previous estimates that only considered the effects of daily oral PrEP, showcasing the benefits of newer long-acting formulations in the fight against HIV.

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Blue Cross lowers costs of some HIV drugs, avoids penalty in civil rights investigation

by | Feb 21, 2024

Following a discrimination complaint filed by HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute and NC AIDS Action against Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina for placing HIV drugs on the highest cost tiers, Blue Cross lowered its tiering of HIV drugs. Speaking to WRAL News, NC AIDS Action executive director Veleria Levy criticized the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights for deciding not to punish Blue Cross for violating ACA protections and creating higher costs for patients.

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