In this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo, a pharmacist displays the HIV prevention drugs Descovy, left and Truvada, right, at a pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif.The drugs, known by the shorthand "PrEP," would be free in pill form and -- for the first time -- as long-acting injectables through the government insurance program designed for those 65 and older.
But it's just a start. She and others are lobbying for a national PrEP plan that would build on momentum from the recent Medicare proposal to expand free access to other age groups, much as with COVID-19 vaccinations. While the cost of the generic form of Truvada, an oral form of PrEP, can be as low as about $30 a month in the U.S.,by University of Virginia researchers reported the cost of starting PrEP is typically about $2,670 for uninsured patients, including about $1,000 for lab tests and medical visits. The new Medicare proposal would cover up to seven counseling visits every 12 months for HIV risk assessment and reduction.including France, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.