PrEP in Oregon — 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 Oregon, 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.

Oregon operates Oregon PrEP Program, layered on top of the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program. Eligibility in Oregon goes up to 550% of the federal poverty line, which covers clinician visits, lab work, and medication. Apply through the state HIV program line at 1-971-673-0153 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 Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) and OHSU Partnership HIV Clinic as the local institutions that show up consistently — both are listed below.

Cascade AIDS Project (CAP). Cascade AIDS Project in Portland — rebranded in 2023 as the Our House of Portland — is the Ryan White Part B case-management contractor for western Oregon, operating the state's highest-volume rapid-testing program at the Pivot Prime clinic on North Russell Street.

OHSU Partnership HIV Clinic. The OHSU Partnership HIV Clinic in Portland is Oregon's largest Ryan White Part C grantee, serving about 2,500 people living with HIV; OHSU co-sponsors the Oregon Health Equity Alliance's Black-community-focused HIV prevention and care training program.