Refer a Patient
This program is designed to make HIV prevention fast and easy for your patients. Referrals can be completed in minutes, and many patients can start PrEP the same day at a participating pharmacy.
How to Refer
143,000 people are living with HIV
New HIV diagnoses increased by ~6% from 2019 to 2023, reaching nearly 5,000 per year
Hepatitis C causes more deaths than HIV, with a mortality rate 1.3 times the national average
An estimated 17% of Californians live with a substance use disorder as of 2025, nearly double the rate three years ago
Who Should Be Referred
Refer patients with current, ongoing, or anticipated risk for HIV, or anyone who wants added protection. Referral is appropriate if a patient:
Has condomless sex with partners of unknown or unsuppressed HIV status
Has a partner living with HIV
Has multiple or anonymous sexual partners
Exchanges sex for money, housing, food, or drugs, or has partners who do
Has had a bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the past year
Uses or injects substances, or has partners who do
Has used post exposure prophylaxis or expects ongoing HIV risk
Experiences housing instability or recent incarceration
Expresses anxiety about HIV risk
Requests PrEP, even without sharing specific risk behaviors
Patient interest alone is sufficient for referral.
Urgent Situations
If a patient may have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours, call one of our navigators (phone nr). The pharmacy can assess for post-exposure prophylaxis and provide time-sensitive care.
What the Patient Can Expect
At the pharmacy visit, patients will:
Meet privately with a trained pharmacist
Complete a brief intake
Receive rapid 4th-generation HIV testing
Start PrEP or PEP if eligible
Leave with clear next steps and follow-up support
Many patients can start treatment the same day.
Ready to Refer?
Choose the referral option above to get your patient connected to pharmacy-based PrEP and related services.
For questions about the referral process or eligibility.