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PrEP Is Primary Care
How PrEP Can Be a Regular Part of Primary Care, Not an Afterthought

Released: May 14, 2025

Expiration: May 13, 2026

Paulette Rumph
Paulette Rumph, MSN, FNP-BC
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Key Takeaways
  • Using the power of primary care to expand PrEP access is simple: Add HIV risk screening to annual wellness visits, educate staff about PrEP to make conversations flow with ease, work with local community programs or telehealth services to facilitate prescribing, and address insurance questions.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner who has been in the field for more than 6 years, I have seen firsth and how powerful prevention can be. We screen daily for high blood pressure, we manage diabetes, we check cholesterol levels—but oftentimes there is no conversation when it comes to HIV prevention. A lot of healthcare professionals (HCPs) are still missing the mark when it comes to this, and I think it’s time that we as family and primary care providers do better.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a powerful tool used to prevent HIV, and it should be offered in primary care settings just like all other preventative tools. It is not just for certain patients, it is for anyone who wants to prevent HIV infection—and that includes veterans, people in recovery, college students, and even young adults who are trying to figure out this thing called life!

PrEP Is Preventative Care
PrEP is one of the most effective ways to prevent HIV. When taken correctly, it reduces the chance of acquiring HIV through sex by up to 99%. That’s game changing. We don’t wait until someone has a stroke or a heart attack to talk about cholesterol or blood pressure medication, so why are we waiting until someone is already at high risk of acquiring HIV to even start the conversation?

Only when we start treating PrEP like we treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes will we begin to better understand the community that we are caring for. It should be a part of our regular conversations with our patients in the exam room—no awkwardness, no judgment, just care.

Let’s Normalize the Conversation
I get it; having a conversation about sex, drug use, or personal choices can be uncomfortable for some HCPs, but guess what? It’s part of life! If we want to be upfront and honest with our patients, we can’t let that minute of discomfort stop us from giving individuals the care they deserve.

Whether someone is entering into a new relationship, has a partner who is HIV positive, is experimenting while in
college, or is in addiction recovery—we don’t have the right to judge, but we do have a right to protect. We ask about alcohol, smoking, and family history during office visits. We can now also ask, “Have you ever heard of PrEP? Do you know what PrEP is? Have you considered it?” These are simple questions that can be asked at any appointment and can very well change someone’s life.

We Must Speak Up
This has become personal for me. I’ve worked with veterans and individuals recovering from addiction, and I’ve seen how many barriers they face—stigma, unstable housing, and gaps in care. These individuals are strong, but they are also vulnerable. We are their resource, and we owe it to them to offer every tool in our toolbox to keep them healthy.

College students and young adults are out there living life, exploring, learning, and sometimes they are not fully aware of how to protect themselves. If we’re not bringing awareness of PrEP to them, then who is?

We need to start having these conversations in primary care offices, veteran clinics, addiction treatment centers, student health centers—everywhere. Everyone deserves access not only to information but also to protection.

Primary Care Providers Have Power
We don’t have to complicate this because we can:

  • Add HIV risk screening to our annual wellness visits
  • Educate staff about PrEP to make the conversation flow with ease
  • Work with local community programs or telehealth services to make prescribing easier
  • Address insurance questions and discuss copay programs with our patients

By treating PrEP as just another part of routine care, we are breaking down barriers and saving lives.

Your Thoughts?
Have you incorporated PrEP services into your primary care practice? If you have, what has your experience been with the process? If not, what challenges are preventing you from taking this step? Share your thoughts by posting a comment.