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Q Care Plus FAQs

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PrEP

PrEP is only available by prescription. To receive a PrEP prescription from Q Care Plus, you’ll complete an easy online profile, meet with an expert clinician, and complete labs. You can request testing materials that will be mailed to you confidentially, or you can choose to go to a nearby site for a blood draw. We will test you for HIV, Hepatitis B, kidney function, and other bacterial STIs. Once your lab results are complete, you can access them through our friendly portal. Your clinician will discuss any abnormal results with you. With labs complete, your provider will prescribe the remainder of your quarterly PrEP prescription.
Click the ‘Get Started’ button, create a profile, and schedule a quick (often less than 15 minutes) virtual appointment with a Q Care Plus provider. Once your provider confirms PrEP is right for you, they’ll issue an immediate initial PrEP prescription and order lab testing, which can be completed at-home or at a nearby location. Our pharmacy partner will contact you to schedule your discreet prescription delivery. Additional PrEP refills will be issued once your labs are completed and reviewed by your provider.

People who inject drugs make up nearly 10% of HIV diagnoses. Because used needles, syringes, and injection equipment may contain another person’s blood (which may contain HIV), sharing drug injection equipment with other people greatly increases your risk of contracting the virus. If you share needles or other drug equipment or have a drug injecting partner, PrEP can significantly reduce your HIV risk.

Source: hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics/
Clinical guidelines recommend periodic lab testing while on PrEP for several reasons. First, we want to confirm that you remain HIV-negative while on PrEP, as do virtually all persons who use PrEP as directed to prevent HIV infection. While kidney dysfunction on PrEP is exceedingly rare, we keep an eye on your kidney health, which requires a blood test. Also, we care about your overall sexual health, and that involves periodic STI screening – necessary because most STIs are present without any symptoms. Comprehensive STI screening requires one blood test as well as urine and swab samples. We’re here to keep you healthy!
Absolutely! When you complete your online profile, we’ll ask if you already have an existing prescription on file somewhere else. If so, we can transfer that prescription over to our system, and if you’re already up to date on your labs, we will obtain those results and get your refill to you quickly. Delivery is free and we’ll do our absolute best to make sure there are little to no out-of-pocket expenses on your end.
Most individuals accessing PrEP as Q Care Plus use it on a once-daily basis. This dosing method is extremely forgiving, such that a single missed dose does not significantly affect the risk reduction benefit. On the other hand, 2-1-1 (or event-driven dosing) requires precise adherence to a specific dosing schedule for it to be effective. If you are interested in PrEP 2-1-1 dosing, your provider will discuss the pros and cons with you, and together, you will decide the best plan of care to meet your personal situation while keeping you healthy.

Doxy-PEP

If you meet with your Q Care Plus provider and together decide that PrEP and doxy-PEP are right for you, you can receive a prescription for both medications at the same time. Your provider will provide expert information on how to use doxy-PEP, and ongoing counseling support will be provided along with periodic STI screening. Currently, Q Care Plus only prescribes doxy-PEP to patients in eligible states and only with your PrEP prescription through Q Care Plus.
  • Current evidence shows that doxycycline (STI-PEP aka Doxy-PEP) can alter absorption of oral estradiol (oral estrogens), present in some oral birth control pills. Despite this, studies have shown oral birth control to be effective at suppressing ovulation and preventing pregnancy even when taken with doxycycline. There are no studies specific to STI-PEP and oral birth control, which is a slightly different dose of doxycycline than previously studied.
  • People taking estrogen pills for reasons other than birth control may also experience fluctuations in estrogen levels when taking STI-PEP. There is no interaction between STI-PEP and estrogens taken by injection or transdermal patch.
  • At Q Care Plus we do not recommend STI-PEP for protection against STIs from vaginal or front hole sex due to a lack of evidence showing that it works. We will adjust our policy once there is better evidence showing STI-PEP is effective in these circumstances.
  • For people having types of sex for which Doxy-PEP is known to be protective, such as oral or anal sex, a Q Care Plus provider may offer Doxy-PEP for STI prevention using a shared decision-making model of care.
  • Additionally, doxycycline (STI-PEP) is not recommended during pregnancy and should be used cautiously in people who can become pregnant.

Prescriptions & Shipping

After your appointment, your Q Care Plus provider will send your initial PrEP prescription to one of our partner pharmacies. From there, your prescription should ship within 24 business hours and will typically arrive at your front door within 1-2 business days. While our goal is to minimize any delay in getting PrEP in your hands, our providers will talk with you about the best timing to start PrEP. You can track your medication shipment in your Q Care Plus patient portal. There may be a short delay if your insurance company requires additional documentation to approve the medication or for copay or uninsured assistance. Our Support staff handles all of this for you.
Your at-home testing materials and/or prescription(s) will be quickly sent to you via Priority Mail®, FedEx, UPS, or local courier. Everything is delivered in discreet packaging without any logos or mentions of Q Care Plus, the pharmacy, or what’s inside. Deliveries are always free. While mail order is the standard means of getting PrEP to you, in limited instances, our partner pharmacies have physical locations where you can pick up your medication. Our pharmacists will work closely with you to meet your specific needs.
Q Care Plus will email you a tracking number every time we send you at-home testing materials, prescriptions, or refills. You can track your packages in the Q Care Plus patient portal.
Q Care Plus works with local organizations that utilize a federal program known as 340B, which allows these organizations to generate funds to pay for your lab testing and clinical services. This allows Q Care Plus and its partner organizations to provide PrEP at little or no cost to you. To generate the necessary financial support, the medication must be filled by one of their partner pharmacies. The benefit of utilizing such an in-network pharmacy partner is that your lab testing, provider services, and prescription shipping costs are covered. If your insurance’s required pharmacy is outside of this network, you can petition your pharmacy to allow you to use the partner pharmacy; if unable, you can still utilize the program for a total of three (3) monthly PrEP fills.

Testing & Labs

If you select our convenient at-home testing option, we will ship testing materials to your location of choice in discreet packaging. The instructions for testing at home are included, and the process takes less than 15 minutes! After you have completed your at-home test, you’ll mail it back to us within 48 hours with the provided, prepaid priority mail envelope. Upon receipt, our partner lab will process the results right away. After your first 90 days on PrEP, we will reach out with a brief renewal assessment, and, if you choose this option again, testing materials will be shipped to you in discreet packaging. The renewal assessment occurs every three months, keeping you on track with your PrEP prescription schedule. A CLIA-certified lab is a laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988, a U.S. federal program designed to ensure the quality, accuracy, and reliability of laboratory testing in the United States. Anyone who does not wish to test at home for any reason has the option of visiting a nearby testing center to complete lab testing with a blood draw.
Your at-home lab test will include detailed instructions, blood sample materials, swabs for oral and rectal samples, a urine cup and pipette, labeled vials, and bags. You can view a short video on the testing process. Your provider is available should you have any questions about the process.
It generally takes 5-7 business days for the lab to receive and process your testing materials, after which your provider reviews your results and reaches out to discuss any concerns. You can check the transit status of your test, as well as the results once complete, at https://web.qcareplus.com/login in your “Labs” section.
Not at all! There are more than 2,200 in-person testing locations across the country you can choose to complete your lab testing. Appointments can easily be made and modified online through your Q Care Plus portal. While many prefer the privacy and convenience of at-home testing, in-person tests typically deliver faster results and are preferred by some individuals. Of note, urine and swab samples for STIs must be taken at home even if you choose to test in person. Your provider is available to answer any questions about the lab testing process.
Once you arrive at the clinic, a typical in-person lab appointment takes about 15 minutes. There are more than 2,200 locations across the country where you can go for testing. Appointments can be made and modified online through your Q Care Plus portal.

If you’re experiencing STI symptoms, we recommend visiting your local health department, urgent care center, or primary care physician for immediate evaluation.

Visit our testing page for more information.
Remember your provider is always available to assist you if you have remaining questions.

At Q Care Plus, an integral part of PrEP care is routine and periodic screening for STIs. As your PrEP provider, we take that aspect of your care very seriously. If you test positive for an STI in our care, we will reach out to talk to you about the result, discuss treatment options for you and any partners you have, and ensure you receive treatment. Some STIs can be treated with oral medication, and we will prescribe that treatment according to clinical guidelines, sending it either to our partner pharmacy or a local pharmacy as required. If the STI requires injectable medication, we will refer you to a local clinic to obtain this treatment, unless you have a primary care or other provider you prefer. Your Q Care Plus provider is always available to discuss the best treatment options for you and answer any questions you might have. We’re here for you!
Becoming HIV-positive while on PrEP is a vanishingly rare event when PrEP is taken as directed. However, some individuals come to us for PrEP unaware they have already acquired HIV infection. Our providers are highly trained in addressing all the issues associated with receiving a diagnosis of HIV, including how to immediately initiate HIV treatment, what sort of clinician evaluation is needed, and how to support you as you adjust to the diagnosis. Q Care Plus can continue your HIV care by telehealth, and your provider will talk with you about available options and which form of care will best meet your needs.

HIV Care & Services

Q Care Plus provides care services to both HIV-negative adults via our PrEP and doxy-PEP prescriptions and those living with HIV via our virtual HIV care program, Q Care Link. We’re also happy to help connect people living with HIV to local organizations for care and support. Just get in touch, and we will help you get what you need.

Medicare & Medicaid

Q Care Plus can provide care to most patients who have Managed Medicaid plans. These plans generally do not have as many restrictions as Fee-For-Service Medicaid plans. If you are unsure as to what type of Medicaid plan you have, we recommend contacting your insurance to confirm, and asking them if they require a Medicaid licensed provider to process your prescriptions. If you are unable to confirm this information, we will do so on your behalf once your prescription is sent to our partner pharmacy.

If you have Medicare Part D coverage, this includes your prescription coverage. Medicare insurance plans often charge a high copay for PrEP. Our Support team will do our best to find a copay assistance program for you to cover your copay. You may wish to contact your insurance to determine how they cover PrEP and/or visit the Medicare website for more information about what this might mean for your PrEP care: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap If you choose to proceed with Q Care Plus, when the pharmacy contacts you for your first shipment, they will already have confirmed how much of the medication cost your insurance covered as well as the copay assistance that was secured.