Democratic Primaries

bluewater

(5,376 posts) Sat Jul 13, 2019, 12:13 PM Jul 2019

Harris introduces bill to cover HIV prevention drug

Sen. Kamala Harris introduced legislation Thursday that would require health insurance companies to cover the HIV prevention drug PrEP, a first-of-its-kind bill that the California Democrat timed to coincide with Pride Month.

The bill would require that insurance plans cover the full cost of PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as require initial tests and related follow-up visits with a doctor.

That would go beyond a recommendation this month by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of government-appointed prevention experts, that PrEP be given to people at high risk of contracting HIV.

The medicine, sold under the brand name Truvada, can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99% if taken every day, according to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Promotion of its use in San Francisco has helped the city bring new cases of HIV to record lows.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-to-introduce-bill-to-cover-HIV-14021126.php?psid=coNqC

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

7 replies

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Harris introduces bill to cover HIV prevention drug (Original Post) bluewater Jul 2019 OP

... mcar Jul 2019 #1

I like that it covers follow up visits tulipsandroses Jul 2019 #2

Would love this! Agschmid Jul 2019 #3

PrEP costs about $1,800 a month for those without insurance DesertRat Jul 2019 #4

Brava! This article is almost a month-old and I've heard nothing of this bill. Kind of Blue Jul 2019 #5

I'm liking Harris better daily. n/t PatrickforO Jul 2019 #6

This is a wonderful idea. It will be expensive until 2021 because Politicub Jul 2019 #7

mcar

(42,372 posts)

1. ...

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 12:27 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

tulipsandroses

(5,124 posts)

2. I like that it covers follow up visits

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 12:34 PM

Jul 2019

I like it

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Agschmid

(28,749 posts)

3. Would love this!

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 12:41 PM

Jul 2019

I’m lucky I get my PREP for free but the testing every 3 months adds up fast.

Insurance reduces the cost of PREP to $90 a month, Gilead program reduces that copay to $0.

Testing every 3 months is ~300 a pop for me so $1200 annually.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

DesertRat

(27,995 posts)

4. PrEP costs about $1,800 a month for those without insurance

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 12:54 PM

Jul 2019

And is MORE THAN 90% EFFECTIVE at preventing HIV infection!

I hope that enough other Senators will support the PrEP Access and Coverage Act to get this passed into law.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Kind of Blue

(8,709 posts)

5. Brava! This article is almost a month-old and I've heard nothing of this bill.

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 01:06 PM

Jul 2019

Thank you for posting. I will break down and cry if it passes in the Senate.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

PatrickforO

(14,586 posts)

6. I'm liking Harris better daily. n/t

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 02:14 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Politicub

(12,165 posts)

7. This is a wonderful idea. It will be expensive until 2021 because

Reply to bluewater (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 07:03 PM

Jul 2019

Truvada is scheduled to be available to manufacture as a generic that year.

Even with the high name-brand cost, it will cost society less in the long run since fewer people will be living with HIV/AIDS.

And it's the right thing to do.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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