{"id":12931,"date":"2025-02-24T16:12:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T21:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=12931"},"modified":"2025-02-24T16:38:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T21:38:39","slug":"richmond-and-henrico-health-districts-expand-prep-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-regional-news-releases\/richmond-and-henrico-health-districts-expand-prep-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Expand PrEP Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

February 24, 2025
\nMedia Contact:<\/strong> Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Expand PrEP Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va.<\/strong> \u2014Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) announce the expansion of its pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program. PrEP<\/strong><\/a> is a medication that reduces a person’s chances of getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t forget how far we\u2019ve come with medications and treatments,\u201d said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts PrEP Coordinator Bernard Stackhouse. \u201cWorking in PrEP gives me hope that with a combination of prevention and treatment, we can end the spread of HIV. We have the tools, and we have to get people to use them. Education helps people overcoming barriers that prevent people from taking their medication.\u201d<\/p>\n

PrEP is for adults and adolescents without HIV who may be exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use. PrEP may also be an option to help protect pregnant people and their babies<\/strong><\/a> from getting HIV while trying to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. Pregnant people should talk to their doctor<\/strong><\/a> to find out if PrEP is right for them.<\/p>\n

RHHD restarted new patient PrEP intake in October 2024 and now offers PrEP services at its Henrico East Clinic<\/strong><\/a> and Cary St. Clinic<\/strong><\/a>. Virginia residents who want to know if PrEP is right for them should call the RHHD PrEP team at 804-664-2125 and leave a voicemail. The team will return voicemails within two business days. PrEP appointments are available at the following times:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cary St. Clinic
\n<\/strong>400 E. Cary St.
\nMondays and Wednesdays: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 to 4 p.m.
\nFridays: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.<\/td>\n		Henrico East Clinic
\n<\/strong>1400 N. Laburnum Ave.
\nThursdays: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Community members can visit rhhd.gov\/sti-hivservices<\/strong><\/a> or call 804-205-3501 to learn more about RHHD\u2019s sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services.<\/p>\n

Most insurance plans<\/strong><\/a> and state Medicaid programs cover PrEP. Financial assistance is available through Medicaid<\/strong><\/a> and the Gilead Patient Assistance<\/strong><\/a> and Co-pay assistance programs<\/strong><\/a>. Patients with no insurance who are not eligible for Medicaid will continue to receive PrEP at no cost (if income requirements are met).<\/p>\n

The following RHHD community partners also offer STI testing services:<\/p>\n