FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR — We at Cascade AIDS Project are deeply concerned about a federal judge’s ruling Wednesday that employers who provide health insurance for their workers should not be required to cover PrEP if doing so would conflict with their religious beliefs. U.S. law currently mandates that most health-insurance plans cover PrEP at no cost to their enrollees.

Whatever legal arguments it hides behind, this ruling is based in homophobia. It came in a lawsuit brought by a group of business owners and individuals who object to paying for PrEP because they believe it promotes homosexual behavior, and the judge who issued the ruling previously ruled against an Obama administration action providing family leave for married same-sex partners. 

Along with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, this new ruling is part of a frightening pattern of court decisions depriving Americans of our freedom to make personal choices about our health. A minority of Americans who hold extreme beliefs are abusing the judicial system to try to control our bodies—and the only way to stop them is to vote for, donate to, volunteer with, and otherwise help elect political candidates who will protect and strengthen bodily autonomy. To register to vote in the upcoming midterm elections (or check your registration), check out CAP’s Voter Resource Guide.

Fortunately, Wednesday’s ruling did not take effect immediately, and the federal government is expected to appeal it. This means that most health-insurance plans are still required to cover PrEP, including any related doctor’s visits or lab work, at no cost to their enrollees. 

Want help getting on PrEP? Go to capnw.org/prep

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017.  More information can be found at www.capnw.org.