Thanks to the steadfast efforts of Massachusetts State Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, legislation allowing individuals under the age of 18 to access live-saving HIV prevention medication—such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—was signed into law today.
“We are positioned to effectively end new HIV infections in Massachusetts if we continue to expand access to PrEP, a life-saving medication that prevents HIV transmission,” said Sen. Cyr in a press release from his office.
“It is imperative that we support the health and safety of the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ youth, yet for young people who face homophobia at home, asking for consent to receive a prescription for PrEP can present an insurmountable barrier,” Cyr said. “With this, Massachusetts joins a number of other states from California to New York that ensure young people can access this critical tool in HIV prevention care.”
States Rep. Lewis in the release, “In my previous role as the executive director of OUT MetroWest, I first learned of the barriers to HIV-prevention services for our Commonwealth’s young adults. While our organization could assist youth in securing HIV testing and treatment, laws at the time prevented their access to HIV-prevention services. With this language, that 10-year effort came to a successful end.”
“I will forever be grateful to House and Senate Leadership for their support of this language, my co-filers Rep Chynah Tyler and Senator Julian Cyr, and the many organizations who have advocated for this expansion of services,” Lewis said.
Explains the release:
LGBTQ youth, especially queer people of color and low-income individuals, are at an increased risk for HIV infections. Current statute permits minors to consent to HIV treatment but does not allow them to consent to HIV prevention services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). This bill adds HIV prevention services to the list of healthcare services to which minors may consent without parental permission, removing a significant barrier to critical care. In addition, this bill allows public health clinics that provide treatment for venereal diseases to also provide preventive care for HIV.
According to the CDC, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use by about 99 per cent when taken as prescribed and does not have serious side effects. Despite the availability of this highly effective HIV prevention medication, the CDC reports that only around 25 percent of the individuals who are recommended to take PrEP currently do so.
The language was included as an amendment to the state’s budget for fiscal year 2023. After passing the Legislature, the Governor returned the provision with a clarifying amendment. The amendment was accepted and returned to the Governor who then signed the language into law.
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