Alliance, 8 Other Organizations Support NCD on PrEP to Increase Access to HIV Prevention
Published August 11, 2023
The Alliance for Aging Research submitted comment today to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with eight other organizations. The letter offers support for the Agency’s proposed National Coverage Determination (NCD) on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection prevention and includes suggestions for key changes related to enhancing access for beneficiaries to ancillary services such as quarterly testing for sexually transmitted infection.
HIV infection is a national health crisis, and from 2015 through 2019 the largest percentage increase of persons living with diagnosed HIV infection was among aging adults over the age of 65. For this reason, it is of paramount importance that older Americans have access to PrEP treatments. The NCD would ensure that PrEP is covered, as well as services like HIV screening up to seven times annually, and a single screening for hepatitis B virus.
The letter recommends that the agency additionally cover any services that would lower the risk of HIV infection for all Medicare beneficiaries, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations.
The full letter can be read here. The letter was supported by the following organizations:
- Alliance for Aging Research
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
- Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation
- Global Coalition on Aging Alliance for Health Innovation
- Health HIV
- Infusion Access Foundation
- The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health
- Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
- Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease