Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Take charge of your health and reduce your risk of contracting HIV. Speak with a PrEP Navigator about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication today.

REACCH offers PrEP navigation services to both insured and uninsured patients.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prescription medication taken by people who do not have HIV to protect against HIV infection.

PrEP might be a good choice for those who: 

• Are in an ongoing sexual relationship with a partner living with HIV.
• Have a partner living with HIV and are considering getting pregnant.
• Have a partner whose HIV status is unknown.
• Have had more than one sexual partner in the past six months and do not always use condoms.
• Have tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea in the past six months.
• Inject drugs or share needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Information for Patients

PrEP is for anyone who wants added protection against HIV. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if PrEP is a good fit for you. 

If you are considering getting pregnant and are concerned about HIV, talk with your doctor about PrEP. This medication may be an option to help protect you and your baby from getting HIV while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.

Concerned about affording PrEP? 

There are financial assistance programs and services that can help patients get PrEP. REACCH offers PrEP navigation services to insured and uninsured patients to assist them in accessing and staying on PrEP with little to no cost.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Information for UPMC Providers in Central Pa.

Helping your patients prevent contracting HIV is possible. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily medication that, along with regular healthcare visits and preventative care, works to keep patients HIV-negative. While it’s not always comfortable or easy to inquire about an individual’s sexuality, gender, or lifestyle, it’s an important part of their overall health and well-being.

REACCH is a resource to you and your patients to prevent contracting HIV. If you need support in starting the conversation, refer to the following questions and considerations during appointments with patients.

• Does the patient have a partner living with HIV and are they considering getting pregnant?
• Does the patient have an ongoing sexual relationship with a partner who is living with HIV?
• Does the patient use injection drugs, share needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs with someone living with HIV, or whose HIV status is unknown?
• Does the patient always use condoms?
• Has the patient had more than one sexual partner in the past six months?
• Has the patient recently been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and reports on-going risky behavior or has used multiple courses of PEP?
• Has the patient tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea in the past six months?

REACCH is offering PrEP Navigation Services to insured and uninsured patients.

In PrEP Navigation Services, the PrEP Navigators will work with patients to help apply for medication financial assistance programs to make their PrEP medication more affordable as well as assist patients in addressing other barriers to medication accessibility and adherence.

For information about PrEP, call 717-782-6410 or 717-210-8531, or email stieml@upmc.edu.