PrEP in Montana, pre-exposure prophylaxis, who qualifies, how to start
The number
Montana does not operate a state PrEP-DAP; the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program covers medication for eligible uninsured residents.
Ryan White Part B
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program
State ADAP
Montana AIDS Drug Assistance Program
Income cap 330% FPL
State PrEP-DAP
Not operated; federal Ready Set PrEP applies
How to start PrEP in Montana
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 Montana, 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.
Montana 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 1-406-444-0273 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 Yellowstone AIDS Project and Open AID Alliance as the local institutions that show up consistently, both are listed below.
Yellowstone AIDS Project. Yellowstone AIDS Project in Billings is Montana's largest HIV community-based organization, operating Ryan White Part B case management across all 56 counties through a satellite office network in Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena.
Open AID Alliance. Open AID Alliance in Missoula is the state's only syringe services program and operates the Western Montana rapid-testing and PrEP navigation clinic on East Pine Street, the highest-volume HIV program west of the Continental Divide in Montana.
For Black families in Montana
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 Montana specifically, with 8% 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 Montana
Where to get help in Montana
- Montana HIV info line: 1-406-444-0273, staff can find the nearest free testing site, schedule PrEP, or help enroll you in ADAP.
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program landing page: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/hivstd.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in Montana: every FQHC offers sliding-scale HIV testing and has certified application counselors on staff. See our FQHC directory for the state at /clinics/mt/.
- State health data for Montana: for state-level HIV mortality, maternal health, and life-expectancy context by race, see /health/montana/.
- Montana Medicaid: Medicaid is the largest single payer of HIV care in most states. See /medicaid/montana/ 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
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/hivstd.
- 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/montana/.
- CDC PrEP guidelines, 2021 update: cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/prevention/prep.html.
Data refreshed: