Letter to the DC Council supporting the PrEP DC Amendment Act (B26-0159)

Dear Chairman Mendelson:

We, the undersigned HIV service providers, advocates, and public health organizations in the District of Columbia, write in strong support of the PrEP DC Amendment Act (B26-0159) and urge the Council to pass the bill without change on its final reading.

We thank Councilmembers Zachary Parker and Christina Henderson for their leadership in advancing strong, evidence-based HIV prevention policy. The bill ensures that DC residents vulnerable to HIV can access the full range of PrEP options without cost-sharing or prior authorization, including newer long-acting regimens that may better meet the needs of many individuals.

Requiring coverage of all PrEP drugs is essential to increasing uptake, supporting adherence, and reducing new HIV cases in the District. Allowing individuals and their providers to choose the PrEP option that works best for them reflects current best practices in HIV prevention and is consistent with current federal protections.

This legislation is particularly important at a time when federal preventive health requirements have recently come under attack. By codifying comprehensive PrEP coverage standards in District law, the Council is protecting DC residents from future federal changes and providing certainty for patients, providers, and public health programs.

For these reasons, we strongly urge the Council to pass the PrEP DC Amendment Act as approved on first reading and to move swiftly toward final passage and implementation. This bill represents a critical step forward in the District’s efforts to end the HIV epidemic.

If you have any questions, please contact DeMarc Hickson, Executive Director, US Helping Us at dhickson@uhupil.org, or Carl Schmid, Executive Director, HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, at cschmid@hivhep.org.

Sincerely,

Advocates for Youth
AIDS Action Baltimore
AIDS Alabama
AIDS United
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Children’s National Hospital
Coai, Inc.
Equality California
Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc.
GLMA
HealthHIV
HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute
Housing Works
Howard University
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
MISTR
NASTAD
National Coalition for LGBTQ Health
National Coalition of STD Directors
National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
National Organization for Women
NBJC
NMAC
SAGE
The AIDS Institute
The Global Trans Equity Project
The Women’s Collective
Treatment Action Group
Us Helping Us

cc:         Members of the DC Council