Pilot Program to Provide HIV PEP to Sexual Assault Survivors

Currently, South Carolina has no standardized guidelines for the prescription and financial obligations for HIV prophylactic treatment post sexual assault. With South Carolina’s high rates of sexual assault and HIV/AIDS, there should be implementation of a program to address these issues. In 2014, South Carolina Office of Victim Assistance (SOVA) contacted the USC Immunology Clinic along with Palmetto Health Richland hospital in order to implement a pilot program in order to provide funding for sexual assault survivors’ treatment preventing HIV. Much communication had to take place in order for all aspects of the process to work efficiently. Emergency departments first seeing sexual assault survivors had to ensure they referred the survivors to the clinics for follow up. Also, the clinics and emergency department had to submit paperwork to SOVA in a timely manner in order to be reimbursed for their services/medication