Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a highly effective HIV prevention intervention that is dramatically underused, especially among those most at-risk. Medicaid’s role as insurance for low-income Americans – particularly since the Medicaid expansions authorized under the Affordable Care Act – makes the program a crucial vehicle for expanding access.
AcademyHealth’s Evidence-Informed State Health Policy Institute executed this one year project that sought to improve Medicaid availability and delivery of the PrEP intervention package, particularly recommended clinical monitoring and follow-up services such as STD screening and treatment. Guided by a Steering Committee of diverse stakeholders, the project focused on assessing and addressing structural, operational, financial, and knowledge barriers regarding PrEP intervention services among providers, payers, and public health leaders.