PrEP in Connecticut, pre-exposure prophylaxis, who qualifies, how to start

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 Connecticut, 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.

Connecticut operates Connecticut PrEP Drug Assistance Program (CT PrEP-DAP), layered on top of the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program. Eligibility in Connecticut goes up to 400% of the federal poverty line, which covers clinician visits, lab work, and medication. Apply through the state HIV program line at 1-860-509-7801 or any community HIV organization that holds a state PrEP navigation contract.

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 Yale New Haven Hospital Nathan Smith Clinic and Hartford HealthCare Hispanic Health Council as the local institutions that show up consistently, both are listed below.

Yale New Haven Hospital Nathan Smith Clinic. The Nathan Smith Clinic at Yale New Haven Hospital is the largest Ryan White Part C clinic in Connecticut, serving New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury with a combined population of over 2,400 patients and the state's only HIV pediatric-to-adult transition program.

Hartford HealthCare Hispanic Health Council. The Hispanic Health Council in Hartford runs the Part B contracted case management for the North-Central HIV Health Service Planning Region and has co-located PrEP navigation with Community Health Services on Albany Avenue since 2020.