America sees stalled HIV epidemic as PrEP access remains limited
Updated
Updated · Vox.com · Apr 24
America sees stalled HIV epidemic as PrEP access remains limited
6 articles · Updated · Vox.com · Apr 24
A 17% rise in PrEP use between 2023 and 2024 has not prevented new HIV infections from increasing in some US communities, especially among Black, Latino, and Southern populations.
Barriers include physician unawareness, social stigma, insurance gaps, and recent federal funding cuts, leaving only about one-third of at-risk Americans on PrEP despite its proven effectiveness.
Telehealth platforms and community outreach have improved access, but disparities persist, particularly for women and people of color. Advocates warn that without stronger policy support, progress toward ending HIV in the US is at risk.
As telemedicine offers free PrEP, why do the most at-risk communities have the lowest online uptake?
With tools to nearly end HIV, why are new infections rising in some American communities?
Could allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP finally solve the access crisis in underserved areas?
A twice-yearly shot can stop HIV, but will cost and bureaucracy keep it out of reach?
Can AI chatbots succeed in promoting PrEP where human healthcare providers have fallen short?
How can 'race-blind' medical data models be perpetuating deep racial disparities in HIV care?
The Fight for HIV Prevention in 2026: $400M Federal PrEP Act Confronts State Restrictions and Rising Inequities
Overview
In 2026, the U.S. faces a critical divide in HIV prevention policy. The federal PrEP Access and Coverage Act aims to expand access by funding a national grant program, while state actions like Florida's emergency ADAP cuts have abruptly ended benefits for thousands, causing treatment interruptions and increasing HIV transmission risks. These state cuts, driven by budget shortfalls linked to federal policy changes, disproportionately harm Black and Hispanic communities and threaten the national goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. Globally, major funding reductions to programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund risk millions of new infections, underscoring the urgent need for stable, equitable funding and leadership to sustain progress.