House votes to require Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacists providing PrEP and PEP

Representative Nelson urged passage of House Bill 2942, which requires the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and coordinated care organizations (CCOs) to reimburse pharmacists and pharmacies for prescribing, dispensing and administering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications, and to reimburse Medicaid patients the same as other payers.

Nelson told the House that HIV diagnoses in Oregon have risen and that PrEP and PEP are critical prevention tools. He said the bill closes a gap left by 2021 legislation that allowed pharmacists to provide these services but did not require reimbursement for Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) patients. The bill aims to remove financial disincentives that have led to patients being turned away.

Supporters noted disproportionate diagnosis rates in parts of the state and among Black and Latino communities; Nelson stressed prevention’s cost-effectiveness and urged colleagues to approve the measure.

The House passed the bill by constitutional majority; the floor record shows the measure declared passed following the vote.