WNCAP

PrEP & PEP Access

WNCAP will provide financial assistance for PrEP & PEP medication, depending on eligibility.  If you qualify, we can have your PrEP prescription shipped automatically each month to your preferred address in convenient and discreet packaging.  Please contact our Pharmacy Services department with any questions or inquiries.

WNCAP is making PrEP affordable for people who normally would not be able to access the medication, such as the uninsured or underinsured. Eligible individuals could pay little or nothing for their PrEP.

PrEP

What is PrEP?

PrEP, which stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is a daily pill used for HIV prevention by HIV-negative individuals who are at high risk for exposure.  Taking PrEP daily can reduce the risk of HIV infection from sex by more than 90%, and HIV infection from injecting drugs by more than 70%.

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the medication Truvada for use as PrEP in HIV prevention for HIV-negative individuals.  Truvada is a combination of two antiretroviral HIV medications, tenofovir and emtricitabine, which can stop the virus from multiplying.  It works best when you have enough medicine in your body on a regular basis, so it’s important to take PrEP consistently, as prescribed by your doctor, in order for it to be effective at preventing HIV infection.  Our Pharmacy Services makes PrEP adherence easier for many individuals, ensuring you receive your medication automatically and on time each month with no hassle.

Ideally, PrEP should be used in conjunction with other prevention methods to reduce the risk of infection.  You can find more information on prevention strategies by clicking here.

Who should take PrEP?

Federal guidelines recommend PrEP for HIV-negative people who are in a sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner, as well as people who have injected drugs within the past 6 months.  There are additional recommendations for those who should consider PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy, and you can read more details by clicking here.

How do you start PrEP?

PrEP is available by prescription only and isn’t right for everyone.  There are many factors to consider, so talk to your health care provider to learn more and find out if PrEP is a good HIV prevention strategy for you.  If you and your doctor determine that PrEP is right for you and you would like assistance filling your prescription, please contact our Pharmacy Services department.   For more information about PrEP, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

PEP

What is PEP?

 PEP, which stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, is prescribed for individuals who are HIV-negative or don’t know their status and have recently had a possible exposure to HIV.  PEP must be started within 72 hours of potential exposure to be effective, taken daily for 28 days, and is recommended for emergency situations only.  PEP regimens usually consist of 3 antiretroviral HIV medications from 2 different classes.

Who should take PEP?

  The CDC recommends PEP for individuals who

• were possibly exposed to HIV during sex

• shared needles and works to prepare drugs

• experienced potential exposure as a health care worker

• were sexually assaulted

How do you start PEP?

If you believe that you’ve had a possible recent exposure to HIV, please seek medical care immediately.  The quicker you start PEP, the more likely it will be effective at preventing HIV infection.  Please contact our Pharmacy Services department if you have a PEP prescription that you would like assistance with.  To read more about PEP, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.