The Massachusetts House of Representatives last week adopted language that will increase access to HIV prevention services for youth across the state. Specifically, the amendment increases access for youth to get life-saving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV.
PrEP is an FDA-approved prescription medication that, when taken daily, reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. Under the current statute, the “mature minor” rule, minors may give their consent for many sensitive services, including treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, but prevention services such as PrEP are not explicitly permitted by law.
The amendment, filed by State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis of Framingham, is based on legislation championed by State Reps. Lewis and Chynah Tyler of Boston, and State Sen. Julian Cyr of Truro.
“Our Commonwealth must do everything possible to empower young adults to make informed choices relating to HIV prevention,” said Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis.
“Ensuring equitable accessibility to life-saving, life-enhancing HIV-prevention medication is instrumental to efforts to achieve zero new cases and zero stigma around HIV. It is a great honor to partner with Rep. Chynah Tyler, Senator Julian Cyr, and so many public health advocates on this vital change to Massachusetts law. I will be forever grateful to Speaker Ron Mariano, Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and Chair Marjorie Decker for their leadership in making this vital change a reality,” said Lewis.
Rep. Lewis served as the founding executive director of OUT MetroWest, a Framingham-based non-profit committed to helping the region’s LGBTQ+ youth thrive. It was in this capacity that he first learned of the barriers to access for our Commonwealth’s young people.
“When the original statute was passed,” added Rep. Lewis, “the idea of HIV prevention medication was not yet fully realized, so our current laws were drafted too narrowly, creating unnecessary and unintentional barriers to HIV prevention services.”
“The physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society applaud passage by the Massachusetts House of policy that expands access to critical pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV medication for adolescents,” said Dr. Carole E. Allen, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
“Young people, especially LGBTQ youth and LGBTQ youth of color, are disproportionately impacted by HIV, and the pandemic has exacerbated barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and care. Minors are currently permitted to consent to a myriad of sensitive health services, including the treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV among them. This policy will enable young people to obtain PrEP medication, a critical preventive tool that will decrease the rate of new HIV infections among young people, lessen disparities in infection rates, reduce life-long disease burden, and ultimately save lives,” said Dr. Allen.
—From a press release from the office of Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
