Mississippi Today (@mississippitoday.org)

Mississippi’s largest private health insurer updates guidelines for HIV prevention medication Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi has updated its guidelines for HIV prevention medication after a national advocacy group… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/06/17/mississippi-health-insurer-hiv/

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Mississippi’s largest private health insurer updates guidelines for HIV prevention medication Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi has updated its guidelines for HIV prevention medication after a national advocacy group alleged the insurer’s coverage options violated federal law. Cayla Mangrum, director of corporate communications for Blue Cross, told Mississippi Today the company expanded its formulary Thursday to include two HIV prevention drugs: Descovy, a daily oral pill, and Apretude, a long-acting injectable medication administered every two months. “We simply added Descovy and Apretude to avoid any perception they were not covered,” Mangrum said to Mississippi Today. She said the change is not a shift in coverage because providers could previously request coverage based on medical necessity through an exceptions process. https://mississippitoday.org/2026/06/17/mississippi-health-insurer-hiv/