Sen. Sanborn introduces legislation to increase access to HIV prevention medication

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, Sen. Heather Sanborn, D-Portland, introduced a bill to increase Mainers’ access to HIV prevention medication. The bill, LD 1115, “An Act to Improve Access to HIV Prevention Medications,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services. 

“When I was growing up, HIV was spreading rapidly and people who acquired HIV were very likely to develop AIDS and become very sick with a shortened life expectancy,” said Sen. Sanborn. “Today, we are incredibly fortunate to have highly effective medication that can not only treat HIV, but actually prevent someone from contracting it in the first place. We need to do everything we can to make it easier for people to access these incredible, lifesaving drugs.” 

LD 1115 would require state-regulated health insurance providers to cover at least one HIV prevention drug, and for at least one drug to be available without a prior authorization, which can slow down the process of a patient getting a medication. The bill also would set up a process where, under certain conditions, a participating pharmacist would be able to dispense up to a 60-day supply of HIV prevention medication to someone without a prescription from a physician. This process would be subject to rules and protocols approved by Maine’s Board of Pharmacy. 

HIV prevention medication is defined as either PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is used to prevent an HIV negative person from contracting HIV before exposure to the virus. PEP is used after an HIV negative person believes they have been exposed to the virus. When taken as prescribed, PrEP and PEP are highly effective. 

The bill faces further action in committee. 

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