What is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)?
Lone Star Circle of Care offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis(PrEP). PrEP is a daily pill, when taken as prescribed, to prevent the transmission of HIV. There are two medications approved for use as PrEP: Truvada® and Descovy®. Most insurance plans and state Medicaid programs cover PrEP.
Is PrEP right for me?
PrEP might be for you if you:
1. Have multiple partners
2. Are practicing unsafe sex such as not using a condom
3. Use drugs or share needles
4. Have a partner who is HIV Positive
For personalized guidance on PrEP and medication coverage options, schedule an appointment with a Lone Star Circle of Care primary care provider. They can answer your questions and help you determine if PrEP is right for you.
Call 877-800-5722 to schedule.
What if I don’t have insurance?
Our teams can enroll you into a patient assistance program to get your medication at no cost to you.
What if I have insurance?
Even if you have insurance, our teams can assist you in enrolling in a patient assistance program. This program is usually offered through the pharmaceutical company that makes the medication. Click here to learn more.
How do I qualify for the program?
i. Must have a negative HIV result
ii. Have a valid prescription from your healthcare provider
iii. Be uninsured or lack insurance that covers prescription drugs.
How do I get PrEP medication through the program?
Medication will be mailed to you while you are enrolled in the program. Click here to learn more and to search for a participating retail pharmacy.
I am interested in PrEP, what do I do next?
Schedule an appointment with one of our primary care providers.
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks your immune system. Once contracted, HIV is a lifelong disease and there is currently no cure. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
HIV Prevention
Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America is an initiative announced in 2019 to reduce the number of new HIV infections by 75% within 5 years, and by at least 90% within 10 years. In accordance with the initiative, Lone Star Circle of Care provides HIV testing so that patients at risk for HIV have access to proven interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP), that significantly reduce the risk of getting HIV, patients diagnosed with HIV receive treatment to live healthy lives.
Click here to learn more about the key achievements of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) initiative.
HIV Testing
LSCC tests patients aged 15 through 65 for HIV at the start of routine care and recommends annual testing for patients at higher risk for HIV. Patients may decline testing at any time. Click here to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about HIV Testing.
HIV Treatment
Thanks to advances in antiretroviral therapy, the medicine used to treat HIV, individuals with HIV who take their medicine as prescribed and, as a result, maintain an undetectable viral load can live long, healthy lives and have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to a partner.
For patients diagnosed with HIV, Lone Star Circle of Care provides referrals to specialized medical care and treatment for the management of HIV. Referral is provided to the following clinics offering HIV treatment and other services to support the health of persons living with HIV.
** David Powell Health Center (Austin)
For help navigating an HIV diagnosis and/or referral to treatment, schedule an appointment with a primary care provider.