PrEP in New Mexico, 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 New Mexico, 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.

New Mexico 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 1-505-476-3628 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 Truman Health Services (University of New Mexico) and New Mexico AIDS Services as the local institutions that show up consistently, both are listed below.

Truman Health Services (University of New Mexico). UNM's Truman Health Services in Albuquerque is New Mexico's largest Ryan White Part C grantee, serving about 1,900 people living with HIV statewide, the only comprehensive HIV primary-care clinic between El Paso and Denver, with a specialized trans health clinic.

New Mexico AIDS Services. New Mexico AIDS Services in Albuquerque is the state's Ryan White Part B case-management contractor, with satellite offices in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Roswell, and Farmington and a peer-led rapid-testing program that serves the Albuquerque International Sunport on a monthly rotation.