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Subcommittee advances bill to bar insurance penalties for PrEP users
Summary
A House subcommittee voted 8–1 to advance HB 60, which would prevent insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums solely because someone uses the HIV-prevention drug PrEP; advocates and a health-plan representative urged support.
Chair Ward introduced House Bill 60, saying the bill would make it illegal for insurers in Virginia to treat people unfairly solely because they take certain medications, citing PrEP as an example. "It's just a preventative medication that is beneficial," Ward said. He noted that Virginia Medicaid covers PrEP, including medication, clinic visits and lab tests, with no out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Nourissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia, testified in support and framed PrEP as a "medically recommended and highly effective preventative health intervention." Rahaman said increasing affordable coverage for PrEP users is critical to public health and cited national increases in PrEP coverage and associated declines in HIV diagnoses.
A representative from the Virginia Association of Health Plans said commercial plans cover PrEP and noted technological advances in formulations. Supporters warned that penalizing PrEP users with higher premiums or denials could discourage preventive care and increase long-term costs.
The subcommittee opened the roll and reported HB 60 out by a vote of 8 to 1. The bill will proceed in the legislative process.
