DE lawmakers push legislation to increase HIV prevention treatment access
DELAWARE – “The barriers to accessing this potentially lifesaving medication are too high,” McBride said. Those medications are PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), used to stop the spread of HIV.
In 2021, more than 3,500 hundred people were living with HIV in Delaware.
Senate Bill 194 looks to increase access to those drugs by allowing Delaware pharmacists to provide both treatment options. Bill Sponsor Senator Sarah McBride said that currently both drugs can only be prescribed by a primary care physician. “This legislation certainly will ensure that pharmacists, who are on the front lines of providing care and are the kinds of health care providers so many Delawareans interact with on a regular basis, are able to prescribe this critical medication,” Senator McBride said.
CAMP Rehoboth’s HIV prevention program, CAMPsafe, offers free HIV testing and counseling for those interested in PrEP and PEP. Communications Coordinator Matty Brown told us expanding access is crucial, especially for the BIPOC community.
According to AIDSVu, in 2022 69% of PrEP users in Delaware were white, compared to only 19% black and 10% hispanic/latino. “According to the CDC report from 2020, of all persons living with HIV infection, African Americans account for 40% of cases in the U.S. and 57% in Delaware,” Brown said.
Senator McBride told 47ABC that increasing availability may be the goal, but they also want to make sure those pharmacists would be following best practices by established through the Division of Public Health and current CDC guidelines. “Especially around requirements for HIV testing before being prescribed PrEP, which is pre-exposure medication that prevents the spread of HIV,” she said.
Senator McBride also said that this isn’t a new idea, adding more than 20 states across the country have already adopted similar legislation. She told us lawmakers are working to make sure the medications are affordable and to guarantee they are covered by insurance.
The bill has passed through the Senate Health and Social Sciences committee.
Senator McBride says consulting with more providers is in order before the bill hits the Senate floor.
