For Immediate Release
March 3, 2026
Sierra Wallace, Communications Director
(202) 355-8431
swallace@dccouncil.gov

DC Council Approves Legislation to Ensure Access to Life-Saving HIV Prevention Treatment  

Washington, DC – Today, the Council unanimously approved the PrEP DC Amendment Act of 2026. This bill ensures no cost-sharing for critical HIV prevention treatments, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (“PrEP”)_and post-exposure prophylaxis (“PEP”), prohibits insurance discrimination based on the use of HIV prevention treatments, and creates a sustainable funding stream for District HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment.

“This bill increases access to life-saving HIV prevention treatments, a milestone in the District’s over 40-year long fight to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS,” stated Councilmember Henderson. “The District has made tremendous strides to lower new cases of HIV, with fewer than 200 new cases over the past two years, the lowest rate since HIV was first documented in the 1980s. However, HIV still affects many of our neighbors, with over 11,000 District residents living with HIV, with residents of Wards 5, 7, and 8, young people 20-29 years old, and Black men and women experiencing new cases at disproportionately high rates compared to the general District population. The recent loss of over $4 million in federal funding for HIV prevention has hindered the District’s efforts to reach these populations. This bill is a critical tool in our toolbelt to continue making progress to end HIV in our communities, decreasing the cost and potential discrimination associated with using HIV prevention treatments and services.”

Specifically, this legislation:

• Prohibits health insurers from using prescription information for HIV prevention treatment to increase premiums for specific enrollees;

• Prohibits insurers from imposing cost sharing, prior authorization, or any medically unnecessary restrictions or delays for the coverage of HIV prevention services, PEP, and all formulations of PrEP approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;

• Prohibits discrimination by insurance carriers based on an individual’s prescribed use of HIV prevention treatment; and

• Establishes the DC Health and Wellness Center Fund, a non-lapsing fund to create a dedicated revenue stream for the  DC Health and Wellness Center and affiliated clinics to provide free and low-cost HIV prevention services.

This bill was introduced by Councilmember Zachary Parker on February 28, 2025. It will go into effect during calendar year 2027. Portions of   the Removing Barriers and Reducing Stigma to Encourage HIV Prevention Amendment Act of 2025, introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto, were also included in the final Committee Print of this legislation.  

###

‍