In public comments to the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute suggests ways that the federal government can improve PrEP uptake: 1) having CMS ensure that private insurers comply with ACA $0 cost-sharing requirements, 2) having the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention dedicate more funding for PrEP, and 3) having HRSA ensure that the community health centers PrEP program works effectively.
Our nation can eliminate both HIV and viral hepatitis, but without an infusion of new resources to accelerate our efforts, we will continue to fall short of these ambitious goals. Current discussions involving budget caps that reduce non-defense discretionary appropriations would have devastating impacts on our nation’s public health system and our ability to respond to these two infectious diseases.
Our nation can eliminate both HIV and viral hepatitis, but without an infusion of new resources to accelerate our efforts, we will continue to fall short of these ambitious goals. Increased investment in surveillance, education, prevention, and care and treatment will ensure we continue to address HIV and viral hepatitis, including taking a syndemic approach to achieve maximum impact. The programs and funding increases detailed below are pivotal to our nation’s ability to end both these potentially deadly infectious diseases.
AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition cochairs the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, The AIDS Institute, NASTAD, and AIDS United wrote to the House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committees: “While we still do not have a cure or a vaccine, we have the science and tools to eventually end HIV in the U.S. through science-based prevention & treatment progs. However, public health progs across the country must have the sufficient funding and proper policies in place.”
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute thanks you for the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Draft Recommendation Statement: Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). On October 1, 2022, HIV+Hep submitted a request, supported by 62 additional organizations, asking the USPSTF to update the existing PrEP recommendation to include long-acting injectable PrEP. We commend you for conducting and completing this timely and thorough update.