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.