This bill seeks to improve access to HIV prevention medications by amending various chapters of the General Laws and introducing a new section, Section 17AA, to Chapter 32A. It defines "HIV prevention drug" as any FDA-approved pre-exposure prophylaxis drug and mandates that the group health insurance commission cover these drugs without cost-sharing, prior authorization, or any protocols that could delay dispensing. Similar provisions are extended to multiple insurance policies and health maintenance contracts through amendments to Chapters 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, 176G, 176I, 176J, and 176Q. The bill also prohibits insurance providers from denying prescriptions for HIV prevention drugs based on the healthcare practitioner’s type or the prescription setting, as long as the practitioner is licensed.

Additionally, the legislation ensures that inmates in correctional facilities receive necessary information and resources regarding HIV prevention prior to their release. It prohibits carriers from imposing restrictions on the dispensing of HIV prevention drugs and mandates that state and county correctional facilities provide HIV-negative inmates with counseling, evaluation, and a supply of these drugs at no cost before their release. The bill also empowers licensed pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, or administer HIV prevention drugs, with regulations to be developed by the department in consultation with the board of registration in pharmacy. It emphasizes confidentiality for inmates during the evaluation process and requires correctional facilities to create plans to connect inmates to post-release medical services for ongoing HIV prevention therapy, with the Department of Public Health overseeing the implementation of these provisions.