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Ready, Set, PrEP is a nationwide program led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that provides free access to the HIV prevention medication PrEP for thousands of qualifying individuals. The program is a key component of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) initiative to expand access to PrEP and reduce new HIV diagnoses in the U.S.

Background
In the State of the Union Address on February 5, 2019, the Trump Administration announced Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America as an operational plan developed by agencies across HHS to end the HIV epidemic and reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the U.S. by 75% by 2025 and by 90% by 2030.

According to Rober Goldstein, MD, over 1 million people who are at risk for HIV in the United States may potentially benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications; fewer than one in four receive it. To address the alarming cost barriers to PrEP, HHS launched Ready, Set, PrEP in December 2019 with hopes to expand access to those disproportionately impacted by HIV.

HIV continues to be a significant public health issue impacting communities across America.


 * While new HIV diagnoses have declined significantly from their peak, progress on further reducing them has stalled, with an estimated 40,000 Americans being newly diagnosed each year. Without intervention, another 400,000 Americans will be newly diagnosed over 10 years despite the available tools to prevent transmissions.
 * About 1 in 7 people with HIV are unaware of their diagnosis.
 * Black and Hispanics make up 69% of all new HIV diagnoses.
 * There's a disproportionately lower percentage of Black and Hispanic men that either are not aware of PrEP, have not discussed PrEP with a health care provider, or have not used PrEP within the past year.
 * Less than 7% of women who could benefit from PrEP are using it.
 * Stigma, fear, discrimination, and homophobia place many people at higher risk for HIV.
 * Socioeconomic issues associated with poverty—including limited access to high-quality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education—directly and indirectly increase the risk for HIV and affect the health of people with HIV and at risk for HIV.

PrEP is an additional method for HIV prevention. Ensuring people and communities have access to PrEP medications will keep people healthy and move the U.S. closer to end the HIV epidemic.

Distribution
In August 2020, HHS contracted TrialCard as a distribution partner to verify Ready, Set, PrEP participant eligibility, enrollments, maintain the network of participating pharmacies, and distribute the donated medications to uninsured participants. In early 2021, TrialCard will begin to offer mail-order delivery services for enrolled individuals.

Qualifications
The Ready, Set, PrEP program provides access to PrEP medications for free to people who qualify. To receive PrEP through the program, an individual must:


 * 1) Test negative for HIV;
 * 2) Have a valid prescription from their healthcare provider; and
 * 3) Not have insurance that covers prescription drugs.

The costs of necessary clinic visits and lab test costs may vary depending on income and where the tests are given. It is recommended for those interested in the program to speak with a healthcare provider to see if PrEP medication is the best option and to get a prescription.

Health Centers
HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Center program is working closely with healthcare professionals at more than 12,000 service sites and 1,400 health centers nationwide in order to provide HIV lab testing and access to PrEP medication. Anyone looking to find a clinic or provider that prescribes PrEP should use the locator tool or request a mail-order through participating pharmacies.

Pharmacy partners
A collective of over 24,000 pharmacies have partnered to donate their medication dispensing services to HHS in support of the Ready, Set, PrEP program and the EHE initiative. Combined, these donating pharmacies represent almost half of the pharmacies in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"I'm Ready" Campaign
Released during World AIDS Day 2020, the "I'm Ready" campaign is the latest addition to the Ready, Set, PrEP program. "I'm Ready" features a collection of diverse stories of real people from a wide variety of backgrounds who share their personal journey with PrEP. The campaign captures authentic voices from individuals shedding light on the unique challenges facing communities disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic. In addition to HIV prevention, "I'm Ready" touches on topics across all of the EHE pillars including HIV testing, viral suppression and HIV stigma.