Washington, D.C, – Friday, February 6th, 2026 – Today, PrEP4All, the national nonprofit dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic by ensuring universal, equitable access to HIV prevention (PrEP) and treatment, welcomed the introduction of the PrEP Assistance Program Act, a landmark piece of legislation introduced by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) that offers a visionary new approach to PrEP access for uninsured populations and has the power to end HIV as an epidemic. Introduced to coincide with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) on February 7, the legislation demonstrates the Congresswoman’s powerful and consistent dedication to equitable health outcomes.

Since 2018, PrEP4All has advocated for exactly this kind of approach to PrEP access, as outlined in the 2024 report The Path Forward for a National PrEP Program: Policy and Implementation Priorities. PrEP4All has been successful in elevating calls for a National PrEP Program from the Biden administration, Congress, and thousands of stakeholders across the US; however, Congresswoman Watson Coleman’s bill marks the first time this vision is being fully fleshed out in legislation.

Statement by Jeremiah Johnson, executive director of PrEP4All:

“Representative Watson Coleman’s PrEP Assistance Program Act advances the kind of streamlined, modernized approach to PrEP access that PrEP4All has advocated for since 2018. By establishing a federal PrEP Pass for uninsured populations, a concept we championed in a 2024 report, the Congresswoman’s bill eliminates complex and fragmented approaches to addressing costs for medications and required lab work that have severely limited PrEP scale-up. This is a visionary piece of legislation that will end HIV as an epidemic by opening up the floodgates on PrEP for communities that have not equitably benefited from PrEP access.”

To learn more about the bill, please register for PrEP4All’s PrEP Policy Update on Wednesday, February 11th starting at 2pm ET.

Statement from Rep. Watson Coleman on Reintroduction of the PrEP Assistance Program Act

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 6, 2026) – Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the reintroduction of the PrEP Assistance Program Act to make the preventative HIV drug PrEP more affordable and accessible to underserved and high-risk populations. The bill would provide grants to cover medication costs, clinic and testing fees, physician visits and community outreach programs.

Although PrEP has been available for several years, many Americans lack access to and awareness of the medication. The PrEP access gap is especially prevalent in Black and Latinx communities, who also suffer from disproportionately high rates of HIV.  

“Thanks to decades of scientific advancement, we now have the tools to end the HIV epidemic once and for all. The next step is getting those tools into the communities that need them most,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “This is not just a public health issue — it’s a social justice issue too. The PrEP Assistance Program Act is an important step toward both eliminating HIV and advancing healthcare equity.”

The PrEP Assistance Program Act is endorsed by PrEP4All, an organization of community members, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and academics all dedicated to increasing access to lifesaving HIV medication and NMAC, formally the National Minority AIDS Council, a national HIV organization that offers capacity building, leadership development, policy education, and public engagement to end the HIV epidemic among communities most impacted in the United States. 

“Representative Watson Coleman’s PrEP Assistance Program Act advances the kind of streamlined, modernized approach to PrEP access that PrEP4All has advocated for since 2018, said PrEP4All Executive Director Jeremiah Johnson. “By establishing a federal PrEP Pass for uninsured populations, a concept we championed in a 2024 report, the Congresswoman’s bill eliminates complex and fragmented approaches to addressing costs for medications and required lab work that have severely limited PrEP scale up. This is a visionary piece of legislation that will end HIV as an epidemic by opening up the floodgates on PrEP for communities that have not equitably benefited from PrEP access.”

“NMAC is proud to support the PrEP Assistance Act, which would deliver affordable HIV prevention drugs, HIV testing, and prevention education to communities that are still at risk,” said Harold Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of NMAC. “To end the HIV epidemic we must guarantee access to HIV prevention medications and services for the communities most affected. NMAC applauds the leadership of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a long-time champion of the HIV community, in introducing this legislation and working to increase equitable PrEP access.”

The PrEP Assistance Program Act is cosponsored by Reps. Andre Carson (IN-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Bill Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29).

You can read the full text of the bill here. 

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Executive Brief: PrEP Assistance Program Act

FOR PRESS

Overview
The PrEP Assistance Program Act, introduced by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, proposes a modernized, comprehensive federal approach to expanding access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for uninsured individuals in the United States. The legislation establishes a federally coordinated infrastructure designed to eliminate cost, coverage, and delivery barriers that have historically limited PrEP uptake, particularly in communities with the highest HIV incidence.

What the Bill Does
The legislation advances a two-part national strategy to modernize HIV prevention.

First, it directs the Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to establish a national PrEP grant program: This program authorizes $400 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support states, Tribal governments, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, hospitals, and universities in establishing or expanding PrEP programs. Grant funds may be used to cover PrEP medications, laboratory testing, clinical visits (including telehealth), adherence counseling, peer navigation, outreach, transportation, mental health services, and other essential wraparound supports. Individuals receiving services through these programs may not be charged out-of-pocket costs.

Second, the bill establishes a federal reimbursement system for PrEP services for uninsured individuals through the creation of a national “PrEP Pass.” Under this model, uninsured individuals would be able to access PrEP medications and required laboratory services at no cost from registered providers nationwide. Providers would submit claims directly to HHS and receive reimbursement for medications and laboratory services, reducing administrative burden and eliminating reliance on fragmented manufacturer assistance programs or inconsistent state-level solutions.

Why It Matters for Ending HIV as an Epidemic
Despite being highly effective, PrEP remains underutilized in the United States, particularly among populations at disproportionate risk of being uninsured, including Black and Latino communities, transgender and non-binary people, people living in the South, and rural populations. Cost, insurance gaps, and administrative complexity remain among the most significant barriers to access.

The PrEP Assistance Program Act addresses these challenges by creating intuitive, easy-to-use pathways to PrEP access that simultaneously address all of the most common barriers experienced by communities. . By combining direct federal reimbursement of PrEP expenses with large-scale community grants that allow for locally tailored PrEP awareness and access initiatives, the bill creates a scalable and equitable pathway to expand PrEP access nationwide.

Equity and Accountability
The bill prioritizes funding for entities serving communities with disproportionately high HIV incidence and explicitly encourages innovative delivery models such as mobile clinics, vending machines, pop-up services, and peer-led interventions. It also requires annual public reporting to Congress, including disaggregated data by race, gender identity, age, and geography, and mandates evaluation of progress in reducing disparities in PrEP access.

Why This Matters to Americans
The PrEP Assistance Program Act represents a significant federal commitment to ending HIV transmission in the United States. PrEP4All estimates that 6,000 individuals can be provided with PrEP via a national program for less than $501,000, the lifetime healthcare cost of just one new HIV infection. By eliminating cost barriers, simplifying provider participation, and centering equity and accountability, the legislation lays the groundwork for a modern, national PrEP access system that can reach every community at risk.