General News
Published September 20, 2021
Learn about changes to our preventive benefits for HIV PrEP care.
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska has updated its preventive care benefits for human papillomavirus (HIV) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug coverage to ensure intervention includes essential support services. These changes are in response to
new clarifying guidance from the government on how we should implement the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation for PrEP.
The new benefit changes begin September 17, 2021, for all members with non-grandfathered health plans. When billed with PrEP coverage, the following items may be covered in full:
- HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
- Hepatitis B and C testing
- Creatinine testing and calculated estimated creatine clearance (eCrCl) or glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
- Pregnancy testing
- STI screening and counseling
- Adherence counseling, including discussion of medication reminders, side effects, social support, and more.
To make sure your employees are knowledgeable about and using their preventive benefits, we recommend you take the following actions:
- Share the updated preventive
services list with your employees.
- Remind your employees that preventive benefits are paid in full when in-network providers are used.
Find ready-to-share resources about preventive services by logging in to your secure
employer account and selecting the Employee Communications
Center link.