amfAR Statement on Biden-Harris Rule Changes Regarding Insurance Coverage for Long-Acting PrEP and Contraceptives
amfAR Statement on Biden-Harris Rule Changes Regarding Insurance Coverage for Long-Acting PrEP and Contraceptives
The rule changes require insurers to cover fully the cost of over-the-counter contraceptives and long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention.
NEW YORK, October 21, 2024 — On Monday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced plans to expand access to reproductive and preventive health services through the Affordable Care Act. One proposed rule change would make over-the-counter contraceptives including emergency contraception, nonprescription birth control, spermicides, and condoms free for Americans with private health insurance. In another, the Administration directed insurers to cover long-acting PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV prevention without cost-sharing, in addition to daily oral PrEP.
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, applauds these important steps toward providing people more options for preventive care and reproductive health services.
“Cost is an all-too-common barrier to healthcare access in the U.S.,“ amfAR Vice President and Director of Public Policy Greg Millett said. “PrEP’s potential to reduce HIV transmissions has not yet been fully realized due to low uptake; expanding free access to multiple forms of PrEP is a necessary step as we look to end HIV as a public health threat.”
Long-acting injectable PrEP has been shown to be remarkably effective, but a recent study found less than 2% of PrEP users in the U.S. are using injectable PrEP. More broadly, less than 40% of Americans who could benefit are currently prescribed PrEP.
Condoms, too, remain an important tool for HIV and STI prevention and for contraception. Their use as a method of contraception, however, has fallen in the U.S. from 75% in 2011 to just 42% in 2021. Rates for sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and syphilis have risen in the past five years.
“Providing as many contraceptive options as possible with no cost-sharing–particularly those with low barriers to access–is both a welcome and necessary step forward toward better reproductive health outcomes,” Dr. Jennifer Sherwood, amfAR’s Director of Research, Public Policy, said. “There are few more effective, empowering, and important health interventions for young women to control their reproductive health.”
The Biden-Harris Administration’s recommendation on long-acting PrEP goes into effect immediately, while the rule change regarding contraceptives could go into effect in 2025, following a comment period.
About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR raised nearly $900 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. Learn more at www.amfAR.org
Media Contact:
Robert Kessler, Program Communications Manager
(212) 806-1602
robert.kessler@amfar.org
Share This:
