PrEP in Arkansas, pre-exposure prophylaxis, who qualifies, how to start
The number
Arkansas does not operate a state PrEP-DAP; the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program covers medication for eligible uninsured residents.
Ryan White Part B
Arkansas Department of Health, HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Section
State ADAP
Arkansas AIDS Drug Assistance Program
Income cap 500% FPL
State PrEP-DAP
Not operated; federal Ready Set PrEP applies
How to start PrEP in Arkansas
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill (Truvada, Descovy) or every-two-months injection (Apretude) that prevents HIV in people who don't have HIV. Taken as prescribed, daily-pill PrEP reduces the risk of sexually transmitted HIV by about 99% and the risk from injection-drug sharing by about 74%, per CDC. In Arkansas, PrEP is available through primary-care providers, FQHCs, LGBTQ+ community health centers, and Ryan White Part C clinics, you do not need to see an HIV specialist to start.
To qualify for PrEP you need a recent negative HIV test (or one done the same day), a baseline labs panel (kidney function, hepatitis B, STIs), and a prescriber visit. Follow-up is every three months for a repeat HIV test and medication refill. Most insurance including Medicaid covers PrEP with zero out-of-pocket under the USPSTF Grade A preventive-services rule. The drug manufacturers (Gilead, ViiV) operate patient-assistance programs for anyone without insurance.
Arkansas does not operate a state-funded PrEP Drug Assistance Program; residents rely on the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program (getyourprep.com) for medication coverage, Gilead Advancing Access or ViiV Connect for the drug copay, and the USPSTF Grade A preventive-services rule for clinic visits and labs (required zero-cost-share under the ACA). The state HIV program line is 1-501-661-2408 for a PrEP clinic referral.
Black PrEP uptake nationally lags sharply, a 2023 AIDSVu analysis found that Black Americans account for 42% of new HIV diagnoses but only 14% of PrEP users. Long-time Black residents name Arkansas AIDS Foundation and UAMS Infectious Diseases Clinic as the local institutions that show up consistently, both are listed below.
Arkansas AIDS Foundation. The Arkansas AIDS Foundation in Little Rock is the state's Ryan White Part B case-management grantee and operates a walk-in rapid-testing clinic on West Asher Avenue with evening and Saturday hours targeted at working-age Black men.
UAMS Infectious Diseases Clinic. The UAMS Infectious Diseases Clinic in Little Rock is Arkansas's largest Ryan White Part C site, operating the Delta AIDS Education and Training Center which trains primary-care providers across the Delta counties where Black HIV burden is highest.
For Black families in Arkansas
The South carries the heaviest HIV burden in the country: Black Southern residents make up roughly 14% of the U.S. population but account for more than half of new Black HIV diagnoses nationally. PrEP uptake among Black Americans lags sharply, AIDSVu's 2023 PrEP-to-Need ratio analysis puts the Black PrEP ratio at roughly one-eighth the white ratio. In Arkansas specifically, with 55% of new 2022 diagnoses among Black residents, closing that PrEP gap is the single highest-leverage prevention move. Black-led HIV organizations in the state run PrEP-specific navigation programs that match you with a prescriber, handle benefits coordination, and keep you in the three-month follow-up rhythm.
Named HIV testing + PrEP sites in Arkansas
Arkansas AIDS Foundation
Little Rock, AR • 1-501-663-7833
UAMS Infectious Diseases Clinic
Little Rock, AR • 1-501-686-5000
Arkansas Department of Health Pulaski County Health Unit
Little Rock, AR • 1-501-280-3100
Living Affected Corporation Delta Outreach
Jonesboro, AR • 1-870-932-6262
Washington County Health Unit (Fayetteville)
Fayetteville, AR • 1-479-521-8181
Where to get help in Arkansas
- Arkansas HIV info line: 1-501-661-2408, staff can find the nearest free testing site, schedule PrEP, or help enroll you in ADAP.
- Arkansas Department of Health, HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Section landing page: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/hiv-std-hepatitis-c-section.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in Arkansas: every FQHC offers sliding-scale HIV testing and has certified application counselors on staff. See our FQHC directory for the state at /clinics/ar/.
- State health data for Arkansas: for state-level HIV mortality, maternal health, and life-expectancy context by race, see /health/arkansas/.
- Arkansas Medicaid: Medicaid is the largest single payer of HIV care in most states. See /medicaid/arkansas/ for eligibility + enrollment.
- Federal Ready, Set, PrEP: getyourprep.com, no-cost PrEP medication for people without insurance.
- CDC NPIN testing-site finder: gettested.cdc.gov accepts a zip code and returns every free + low-cost HIV testing site within 50 miles.
References & primary sources
- Arkansas Department of Health, HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Section: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/hiv-std-hepatitis-c-section.
- CDC HIV Surveillance Report 2022: cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance.html. Source for state-level new diagnoses and race-stratified counts.
- HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grantee list: ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/grants/part-b.
- NASTAD ADAP Monitoring Project 2024 Annual Report: nastad.org/adap-monitoring-project. Source for ADAP income cap + enrollment + PrEP-DAP data.
- AIDSVu state profile: aidsvu.org/state/arkansas/.
- CDC PrEP guidelines, 2021 update: cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/prevention/prep.html.
Data refreshed: