Making HIV prevention more accessible

BOWLING GREEN, Ky-Drugs that can help prevent the spread of HIV may be getting more affordable for some.

The drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV, Truvada and Descovy, are relatively new as preventative medications. But with a price tag that can run into the thousands of dollars annually, being able to afford the protection can be difficult.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a program that may bring the cost down for some patients. Benjamin Washam, a pharmacist with Sheldon’s Pharmacy in Bowling Green said the process starts by talking to your doctor. If you have insurance coverage, the insurance plan may request a prior authorization before approving the medication as a covered prescription. If the insurance company denies the claim, or if you don’t have insurance coverage, the CDC has a website for applying for the assistance program. The website address is GetYourPrEP.com.

It’s important to remember that taking PrEP only reduces the risk of contracting one type of HIV. It is still possible to become infected by HIV or other sexually-transmitted infections even while using PrEP.