PrEP coverage is the percentage of people prescribed PrEP among the estimated number of people who had indications for PrEP during a specified year. PrEP coverage was 23% in 2019, marked by significant disparities across race/ethnicity as shown in the last column of the following table.
The data for 2021 is similar:
One approach to improving PrEP access is reducing costs to patients by mandating health insurance coverage for PrEP. In June 2023, Rhode Island passed legislation (S 563) that requires health insurance plans to fully cover PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) at no out-of-pocket cost to patients, including newer injectable formulations. The legislation also enables pharmacists to prescribe PrEP and PEP to eligible patients as a 30 to 60-day supply of each drug type every two years. Way to go, Rhode Island!