A bill signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida will grant pharmacists the ability to offer more HIV care to clients. This includes screening for HIV and providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV transmission following high-risk exposure. The law goes into effect on July 1, and aims to combat the high HIV infection rates in the state, with over 124,000 Floridians living with HIV and 600 dying from related illnesses in 2022.
Licensed pharmacists can collaborate with physicians to provide these services, offering quicker and more affordable access to PEP compared to traditional healthcare visits.
The legislation, known as HB 159, unanimously passed both the House and Senate and was named the John W. Rheay Act in honor of an individual who died of AIDS.
Click here to read the full article originally posted on the POZ website by Laura Schmidt.
|
Share on: |