Letter Urging DC Comm. on Business and Economic Development to Support the PrEP DC Act of 2025
Chairperson, Committee on Business and Economic Development
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Chairperson McDuffie:
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a District-based national organization dedicated to promoting quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other chronic conditions. We write in strong support of the PrEP DC Act of 2025 (B26-0159) and urge the Committee on Business and Economic Development, which has shared jurisdiction over the bill, to approve this legislation as soon as possible.
The District has made meaningful progress in reducing new HIV infections. To maintain and build on this progress, it is important that individuals who need protection from HIV can access and afford PrEP, medications that reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99 percent when taken appropriately. These medications are highly effective, but their impact is limited when coverage restrictions or out-of-pocket costs prevent people from starting or staying on them.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private health plans are required to cover preventive services, including PrEP, without cost-sharing because it received an “A” rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). A recent Supreme Court decision clarified that the HHS Secretary has considerable authority over USPSTF membership and its recommendations. A future task force could revise or withdraw the PrEP recommendation, jeopardizing no-cost coverage nationwide. States therefore have an urgent responsibility to protect their residents by codifying PrEP coverage requirements into law.
Despite federal requirements that PrEP be covered without cost-sharing, insurers often continue to impose hurdles such as prior authorization and other utilization management restrictions that delay or block access. Federal guidance states these barriers are not permitted for preventive services, but enforcement alone has not been enough. This bill codifies these protections so residents can count on reliable, barrier-free access to PrEP.
We urge the Council to pass this bill as soon possible. Taking action now will strengthen HIV prevention in the District and ensure residents continue to have dependable access to PrEP even if future changes occur at the federal level.
We are including the testimony we gave before the Committee on Health for your review. The Committee on Health will be marking up the bill on December 8th. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact our Government Affairs Manager, Zach Lynkiewicz, at zlynkiewicz@hivhep.org.
Thank you for your leadership and for your continued commitment to expanding access to HIV prevention in the District.
Sincerely,
Carl E. Schmid II
Executive Director
cc: Councilmember Zachary Parker
Committee on Business and Economic Development
Councilmember Charles Allen
Councilmember Anita Bonds
Councilmember Wendell Felder
Councilmember Brooke Pinto