CVS Health decides to cover new long-acting PrEP drug

Nation Now Must Commit to Increase Access & Usage

Washington DC… CVS Health, which owns the second largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States, will now cover Yeztugo, the new twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, on its formularies. In reaction to the news,  Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, issued the following statement:

“We are pleased that CVS Health has finally decided to cover this groundbreaking new PrEP medication. Four months ago, 63 HIV organizations joined us in sending a letter to CVS’s president urging them to reconsider their refusal to cover Yeztugo and reminding them of their legal obligation to cover PrEP and describe the important benefits the drug would bring to preventing HIV in the US.  With this coverage decision, CVS joins other leading payers and PBMs in covering the new medication.”

According to Gilead, over 85 percent of all insured people in the United States now have coverage for Yeztugo.    

“However, coverage does not automatically translate into access and usage. Too many people are still being forced to pay copays while other payers, including employers, are failing to cover all forms of PrEP.  For example, Delta Air Lines, one of the largest employers in the country, is violating the law by only offering unrestricted coverage of daily generic oral PrEP, while imposing prior authorization on branded PrEP medications.”   

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute has written to Delta Air Lines twice to urge them to follow the law and provide unrestricted coverage of all PrEP formulations, so far to no avail. 

“The Trump administration has expressed an interest in promoting long-acting PrEP.  In order to expand PrEP uptake, we need leadership from federal and state governments, including aggressive enforcement of PrEP insurance coverage requirements and sustained funding of state, local, and community HIV prevention programs. Making sure everyone who can benefit knows about PrEP and is able to access it easily is key to ending the HIV epidemic.”

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The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.