Advancing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access in Pharmacies to Improve PrEP Uptake in Disadvantaged Areas

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) bear the highest burden of HIV in the US. PrEP is the single most effective HIV prevention strategy yet under-utilized among BMSM. When taken every day PrEP can prevent up to 92% of HIV infections. Studies estimate that 48-70% of BMSM are willing to use PrEP, yet, uptake among blacks remains low (~10%). Lower insurance rates among blacks compared to whites may be a barrier to PrEP, but, evidence of insurance rates, as well as prescription payment programs that cover most or all of the costs of PrEP do not completely explain significant disparities in PrEP uptake. Indeed, limited access to PrEP, distrust of physicians and stigma are noted as critical barriers to PrEP that must be improved to reduce HIV.

Neighborhood residence shapes BMSM HIV exposure and access to HIV prevention resources. Census tracts with high HIV had 20% higher poverty and 200% larger MSM populations. High poverty neighborhoods also have the fewest HIV physicians. While most census tracts are within 15 minutes of an HIV physician by car, residents in HIV prevalent areas have low rates of car ownership and commute time more than doubles when traveling by public transportation, which is unavailable in some areas.

There is a strong scientific premise for increasing PrEP delivery in pharmacies for BMSM. About 95% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy; pharmacies have flexible hours and pharmacists have high credibility with community members. Studies have shown pharmacies can engage with high risk populations including people who inject drugs (PWID) to reduce HIV risk behaviors and provide primary prevention services including immunizations, blood pressure screenings and HIV testing. PrEP has also been sustainably offered in a Seattle pharmacy, but mostly to white MSM (85%). Nevertheless, almost 100% initiated PrEP and 75% followed up for continued PrEP. Following this, Walgreens across the US have offered PrEP through their existing clinics.

Existing pharmacy PrEP models have limited potential for reaching BMSM. In Seattle, state regulations give pharmacists authority to administer biological screenings (HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and creatinine) and prescribe PrEP. Many states do not have legislation that expand pharmacists' purview in service delivery. Walgreens has overcome this regulatory limitation by using nurse practitioners to screen and prescribe PrEP in their existing clinics. While Collaborative Practice Agreements between pharmacists and physicians are another route to deliver services through pharmacies, they are time-consuming and thus infeasible for community pharmacists in high morbidity neighborhoods who already have a hectic workflow; and for chain pharmacies these partnerships are determined on a corporate rather than individual pharmacy level.

Accomplishing the study aims will be done through three steps: conducting interviews and workflow assessments with stakeholders, developing an intervention to deliver a culturally relevant pharmacy PrEP model, and perform a pilot test to study the delivery model in pharmacies in high poverty, racial minority neighborhoods.