A national analysis shows telemedicine now delivers a substantial share of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in the United States. In 2024 nearly 20% of US residents who use PrEP—more than 110,000 of about 580,000 users—received medication via telemedicine. That marks a large increase from under 1% in 2019 and from 9% in 2022.
The study combined national PrEP prescription counts from AIDSVu with de-identified, HIPAA-compliant data from MISTR, the countryęs largest telePrEP provider. Emory researchers worked with public health partners and caution the figure likely underestimates telePrEPęs full reach because it relies on a single national telehealth provider. The report also notes total PrEP use rose from about 264,000 users in 2019 to more than 591,000 in 2024, while the CDC estimates 2.2 million people would benefit from PrEP.
The telePrEP model depends on MISTRęs partnerships with community-based health organizations that use the federal 340B drug pricing program to subsidize care. MISTR covers costs for labs, consultations, prescriptions and shipping, and offers telePrEP free of charge regardless of insurance. Study authors highlight telehealth as a way to reduce barriers and maintain long-term engagement in care; the research appears in JAMA Network Open.
- Most telePrEP users (77%) had not used PrEP before.
- More than one-third of telePrEP users were uninsured.
- Over 80% of telePrEP users chose at-home testing for HIV and other STIs.
Difficult words
- telemedicine — Medical care delivered remotely by video or phone.
- pre-exposure prophylaxis — Medication taken before exposure to prevent infection.
- de-identify — Remove personal identifiers from data to protect privacy.de-identified
- subsidize — Provide money to reduce the cost of services.
- uninsured — Not covered by health insurance for care costs.
- engagement — Ongoing involvement in medical care or treatment.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might telemedicine services like telePrEP reduce barriers to starting and staying in HIV prevention care? Give two reasons from the article or your experience.
- What are the strengths and limitations of a study that uses data from a single national telehealth provider?
- How could free telePrEP services affect access to care for uninsured people in your community?
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