A greater focus on increasing the scale of PrEP use is needed to achieve population-level impact. The brief outlines four principles that can chart a path toward greater scale of PrEP use:
Goals and Metrics Matter: Setting bold goals and measuring progress are important to achieve results in clinics, among populations, and across jurisdictions. We recommend that the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issue standardized metrics for measuring PrEP states and PrEP engagement at 12 months as two core metrics (where applicable) across HHS programs.
Reducing Population Disparities Is Essential: Focused efforts on priority groups, as well as a shift from focusing on behavioral risk assessments that may not capture an individual’s need for PrEP to focusing on PrEP as an option for all individuals from priority groups, can help to reduce racial, gender, and geographic disparities in PrEP use.
Efforts Are Needed to Make PrEP Affordable and Expand Navigation Services: Greater investments are needed to support insurance and assistance programs and help people navigate the complex maze of programs.
Expanded use of PrEP is rightfully a central pillar of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative in the United States. PrEP programs need to be able to effectively serve a larger volume of clients and need service models that make it easier for users and providers to maintain PrEP engagement. There is no time to waste.
The views reflected in this expert column are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law or Georgetown University. This blog is solely informational in nature, and not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed and retained attorney in your state or country.
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