HIV Care • PEP
PEP — State by State
The national picture
PEP prevents HIV if started within 72 hours of exposure. Earlier is better; the first two hours after exposure are the window in which PEP works best.
PEP — post-exposure prophylaxis — is a 28-day course of three HIV medications that prevents HIV after a possible exposure. PEP works only if started within 72 hours of exposure; earlier is better, and the first two hours are best. If you've had a condomless sexual encounter with someone who has or may have HIV, a needle-sharing event, or a needlestick injury in the last 72 hours and you haven't started PEP yet, go to the nearest emergency department tonight.
Every U.S. emergency department carries the standard PEP regimen (tenofovir/emtricitabine plus dolutegravir or raltegravir). The first week's worth is often dispensed directly from the ED; a follow-up visit within a few days transitions you to a 28-day prescription. Four weeks after completion, a repeat HIV test confirms prevention.
Cost: most insurance covers PEP with standard ED copays. Uninsured patients qualify for Gilead Advancing Access patient-assistance for the drug portion; if the exposure was sexual assault, the Office for Victims of Crime pays the full course via the state Sexual Assault Forensic Exam fund. If you finish PEP and remain at ongoing risk, transitioning to PrEP the same week is recommended and supported — no washout period needed.
For Black communities
Research on emergency-department PEP dispensing consistently finds that Black patients are less likely to be offered PEP than white patients with comparable reported exposures. The gap isn't about who walks into the ED; it's about who gets asked about HIV risk and told about PEP. If you're in the 72-hour window, advocate for yourself explicitly: ask for 'HIV post-exposure prophylaxis' and request an infectious-diseases consult. You do not need to justify the ask, and providers cannot deny PEP based on a judgment of whether the exposure 'counts.' CDC guidelines are clear: any possible percutaneous or mucous-membrane exposure to HIV-positive or HIV-unknown fluid is indication enough.
PEP in every state
Alabama
Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of HIV Pr…
Alaska
Alaska Section of HIV/STD Program
Arizona
Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of HIV Se…
Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Health, HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Sect…
California
California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS
Colorado
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, S…
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Public Health, TB, HIV, STD, …
Delaware
Delaware Division of Public Health, HIV Program
Florida
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Di…
Georgia
Georgia Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Epidemiol…
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Health, Harm Reduction Services Br…
Idaho
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Ryan White Part…
Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Section
Indiana
Indiana Department of Health, Division of HIV/STD/Viral…
Iowa
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of…
Kansas
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of …
Kentucky
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, HIV/AI…
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Health, STD/HIV/Hepatitis Progr…
Maine
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/ST…
Maryland
Maryland Department of Health, Center for HIV Care and …
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of HI…
Michigan
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, HIV C…
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health, STD, HIV, and TB Section
Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Health, STD/HIV Office
Missouri
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bure…
Montana
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services,…
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Divis…
Nevada
Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, HIV Pr…
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, …
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD, …
New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Health, Infectious Disease Bur…
New York
New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,…
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, H…
Ohio
Ohio Department of Health, HIV Care Services Section
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Department of Health, HIV/STD Service
Oregon
Oregon Health Authority, HIV/STD/TB Section
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of HIV Dise…
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Preventio…
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Public Health, Bureau of H…
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Disease Pr…
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Health, HIV/STD Program
Texas
Texas Department of State Health Services, TB/HIV/STD S…
Utah
Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of…
Vermont
Vermont Department of Health, HIV/AIDS/STD Program
Virginia
Virginia Department of Health, Division of Disease Prev…
Washington
Washington State Department of Health, Office of Infect…
West Virginia
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Epide…
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Health Services, AIDS/HIV Progr…
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Health, Communicable Disease Unit
District of Columbia
DC Department of Health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and …