Update: These provisions were added to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget that was signed into law on July 9, 2026. Learn more.

The history of the HIV epidemic is one of devastating loss of life and public anxiety and fear. Fortunately, it is also a history of medical success. HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), approved by the FDA in 2012, is a powerful medical breakthrough that can end the HIV epidemic. PrEP prevents HIV transmission by close to 100 percent when it is taken as prescribed.

The challenge is that too few people in Massachusetts who are vulnerable to HIV are currently taking PrEP, and pending changes at the federal level threaten to expand that gap.

Massachusetts must act now to protect PrEP access from federal reversals and avoid backtracking on our state’s efforts to protect public health and end the HIV epidemic.

GLAD Law is championing H.1245/S.2883, “An Act to address barriers to HIV prevention medication.” This legislation will eliminate significant barriers to PrEP by:

  • Prohibiting private insurers, MassHealth, and the Group Insurance Commission from imposing cost sharing or prior authorization on FDA-approved HIV prevention medications.
  • Requiring state and county correctional facilities to provide PrEP to eligible inmates upon release in connection with an amendment to the state’s 115 MassHealth waiver.
  • Requiring insurers to accept prescriptions for PrEP from any health care practitioner licensed to prescribe medications.
  • Adding clarifying language to implement a budget provision passed last session authorizing pharmacists to prescribe a time-limited supply of PrEP consistent with regulations of the Department of Public Health.

Read our fact sheet on H.1245/S.883 to learn more about this legislation.

On September 17, 2025, Bennett Klein, GLAD Law’s Senior Director of Litigation and HIV Law, delivered testimony to the Joint Committee on Financial Services on the importance of passing H.1245/S.2883. Read his testimony.