Letter to Massachusetts Senate supporting HIV PrEP Access Provisions and FY27 HIV/AIDS Funding
Massachusetts State Senate
24 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Senator Cyr:
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a national organization promoting quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions. We write to thank you for your longstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of the HIV community and to urge you to champion two critical HIV priorities during Senate consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget: (1) the comprehensive HIV PrEP access provisions adopted by the House, and (2) robust funding for the state’s HIV/AIDS and infectious disease programs.
At a time of growing uncertainty around federal HIV prevention policy, Massachusetts has an important opportunity to reaffirm its leadership in ending the HIV epidemic and protecting access to lifesaving prevention and treatment services. We applaud the House for advancing strong HIV-related provisions and encourage the Senate to preserve and strengthen these investments as it finalizes its budget proposal.
PrEP Access and Preventive Coverage Protections
We strongly support the House’s inclusion of comprehensive HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage protections across state-regulated insurance markets, MassHealth, the Group Insurance Commission, and correctional settings. For commercial insurance coverage in particular, these provisions codify into Massachusetts law existing federal protections under the Affordable Care Act and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation requiring coverage of PrEP medications and related services without cost sharing, prior authorization, step therapy, or other utilization management barriers.
By codifying comprehensive PrEP coverage standards in state law, the General Court would help protect Bay Staters from potential federal changes while providing certainty for patients, providers, insurers, and public health programs. In doing so, Massachusetts would join a growing number of states, including California, Illinois, Minnesota, and Oregon, that have taken steps to preserve comprehensive PrEP access protections at the state level, including coverage of all FDA-approved PrEP medications without cost sharing or prior authorization. A similar bill recently passed in the District of Columbia and is currently pending congressional review.
We respectfully urge the Senate to adopt language matching the House PrEP provisions in full.
HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Funding
We also urge the Senate to match the House’s proposed $35 million funding level for line item 4512-0103, HIV/AIDS Prevention Treatment and Services. The current Senate proposal would fund the line item at just $31.65 million, more than $3 million below even the program’s FY2024 funding level.
This funding supports critical HIV testing, linkage to care, treatment access, retention in care, and supportive services for people living with or at risk of HIV. It also supports services related to viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases of public health importance.
Sustained investment in these programs remains essential. Despite significant advances in HIV prevention and treatment, too many individuals still face barriers to accessing PrEP, remaining engaged in care, and achieving viral suppression. Stable state funding helps ensure continuity of care, supports community-based providers, and advances the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce disparities in HIV outcomes.
We also recognize the important role of the Infectious Disease Drug Assistance Program (IDDAP) and related safety net infrastructure supported throughout the budget. These programs remain vital to maintaining access to treatment and prevention services for vulnerable populations.
Massachusetts has long been a national leader in HIV prevention and care. Preserving the House’s PrEP protections and HIV funding levels would represent an important continuation of that leadership at a moment when federal protections are increasingly uncertain.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact our Government Affairs Manager, Zach Lynkiewicz, at zlynkiewicz@hivhep.org, or our Health Policy Manager, Kevin Herwig, at kherwig@hivhep.org or (617) 666-6634. Thank you for your consideration and leadership on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Kevin Herwig
Health Policy Manager
CC: Senator Michael Rodrigues, Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee
Senator Jo Comerford, Vice-Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee