PrEP is a once-daily pill that is more than 99% effective at preventing HIV — and for most Kentuckians, it is fully covered, with no cost for the medication or the required lab visits. Fresh Start Health offers PrEP across the Commonwealth using telehealth, so you can start and stay protected without a long drive or a specialist wait.

If you want to get started or have questions, call us at (606) 225-8200 or use the chat function on this page. A care coordinator will check your coverage and walk you through every step.

What is PrEP, and how well does it work?

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a safe, FDA-approved medication taken by people who are HIV-negative to prevent infection. When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% and from injection drug use by at least 74%. It is one of the most effective HIV-prevention tools available — and it puts that protection directly in your hands.

Fresh Start prescribes the daily oral options approved for PrEP, including Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide). Your clinician reviews your health history to determine the right option for you.

Who should consider PrEP?

PrEP may be right for you if you are HIV-negative and any of the following apply:

You have a sexual partner living with HIV.
You have had a sexually transmitted infection in the past six months.
You do not consistently use condoms with partners whose HIV status you do not know.
You inject drugs and share, or have shared, needles or other equipment.
You have been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) repeatedly, or have ongoing risk.

You do not need to fit a label to ask about PrEP. If you have any concern about your HIV risk, a confidential conversation with our team is the right first step.

Why PrEP matters in Kentucky

Kentucky’s HIV-prevention need is closely tied to the same opioid epidemic driving the region’s hepatitis C rates. The CDC has identified several Kentucky counties as among the most vulnerable in the nation to an HIV outbreak linked to injection drug use. PrEP is a frontline tool to keep that risk from becoming infection — especially in the Eastern Kentucky communities we serve. Yet PrEP remains underused here, often because people don’t know it exists, assume it’s expensive, or can’t easily reach a prescriber. Telehealth removes those barriers.

How PrEP works through Fresh Start, step by step

1. Reach out. One call or chat message. We verify your insurance and confirm coverage before you spend a dollar.
2. Baseline labs. Before starting PrEP you need an HIV test and a few routine labs, done once at any Quest, LabCorp, or Fresh Start location near you.
3. Your clinician prescribes. A Fresh Start clinician reviews your results by secure video or phone and sends your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.
4. Stay protected. PrEP requires a quick check-in and lab test about every three months. We handle the reminders and keep your prescription current — most of it from home.

Does insurance cover PrEP? What if I’m uninsured?

Yes. Under federal rules, most insurance plans — including Kentucky Medicaid and commercial plans — must cover PrEP, the required lab work, and clinic visits with no out-of-pocket cost. We verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.

If you’re uninsured, cost still does not have to stand in your way. We can often enroll you in Medicaid the same day, or connect you with the medication manufacturer’s patient-assistance program and federal PrEP support programs that cover the drug at no charge. Our care coordinators do this paperwork for you.

Is PrEP confidential?

Yes. Your care is private and protected under HIPAA. We provide compassionate, stigma-free care for every patient — that is the core of how Fresh Start operates. No judgment, no lectures; just the protection you came for.

Why Fresh Start Health

Fresh Start Health Centers is a federally certified Rural Health Clinic with four locations across Eastern Kentucky — Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg — and accepts Kentucky Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans. Because we also treat addiction and hepatitis C, we understand the full picture of risk in our communities and can coordinate your care across all of it. Unlike national virtual-only services, we are physically here in Kentucky and know the people we serve.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get PrEP by telehealth in Kentucky?
Yes. After a one-time local lab visit, your visits and follow-ups happen by secure video or phone, and your medication is sent to your pharmacy.

How much does PrEP cost?
For most Kentucky Medicaid and commercial plans, PrEP and its required labs cost $0 out of pocket. If you’re uninsured, we can usually enroll you in Medicaid or a patient-assistance program so the medication is still free.

Is PrEP safe?
Yes. PrEP medications are FDA-approved with a strong safety record. Side effects are usually mild and temporary. Regular lab checks keep your care safe.

How often do I need appointments?
After starting, PrEP requires a brief check-in and lab test roughly every three months. Most of this can be handled by telehealth.

Does this program serve my area?
Yes — the program serves the entire state of Kentucky. As long as you live in Kentucky and can get to a lab one time, we can prescribe and manage your PrEP. Our clinics are in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg.

Get protected today

PrEP is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from HIV — and for most Kentuckians, it’s free and can be managed from home. Don’t let cost, distance, or stigma stand in the way.

To get started, call us at (606) 225-8200 or use the chat function on this page to speak with our team. A care coordinator will reach out within one business day.

A note on privacy: please share any medical details by phone or through our HIPAA-protected patient portal — not through a web form or email reply.

PrEP for HIV Prevention in Kentucky