For the first time, the United States has the tools to end the HIV epidemic. Breakthroughs that once seemed unimaginable are transforming lives. Modern HIV treatment allows people living with the virus to live long, healthy lives. It can also suppress HIV to undetectable levels, eliminating the risk of sexual transmission.
Most important, however, is pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. For people at risk, PrEP can prevent HIV infection with extraordinary effectiveness, making it the single most powerful tool we have to stop new transmissions. When taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV infection by as much as 99%.
Medicine alone does not end epidemics. Scientific breakthroughs matter only when people can access them. Today, too many Americans at risk for HIV still face insurance denials, burdensome copays, confusing coverage rules, provider shortages and persistent stigma.
This fight has never been abstract. After my HIV diagnosis, I experienced firsthand what access to effective treatment can mean: more time, more hope and the freedom to build a future.
In 2024, there were nearly 39,000 new HIV diagnoses in the United States. While PrEP uptake rose significantly over the ...