Music City PrEP Clinic Names Avita Partner of the Year

Onsite Pharmacy, Alignment in Promoting Sexual Health Key to Clinic’s Growth

Avita, the leading national HIV-focused pharmacy services organization, has been chosen by Music City PrEP Clinic as its 2021 “Partner of the Year.” Music City PrEP credits Avita’s extensive support – including the opening of an onsite pharmacy – as integral to the clinic’s phenomenal growth.

In seeking to achieve its mission to get to zero new HIV transmissions in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, Music City PrEP launched in 2017, growing from small start-up with a handful of patients to the largest provider of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the state of Tennessee. PrEP is a daily pill that helps reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 99% in people who are HIV negative. Avita has worked as an extension of Music City PrEP’s staff from the beginning to support and help them grow their business. In March 2021, Avita opened an onsite pharmacy specifically to serve Music City PrEP patients, ensuring they could get their prescriptions filled quickly and efficiently without leaving the facility, removing a significant barrier to access and supporting adherence. In spring 2022, Music City PrEP is opening a second clinic, which also will include an Avita pharmacy.

Music City PrEP welcomes everyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation. A large percentage of the patient population identifies as LGBTQ+, with staff members reflecting that diversity. Avita and Music City PrEP are aligned in providing all patients nonjudgmental, stigma-free, sex-positive healthcare.

“With the explosive growth we've experienced at the Music City PrEP Clinic, it would have been tremendously more difficult to provide quality services and efficient monthly prescription fills to our patients without the guidance and support of Avita,” said Rob Birkhead, Music City PrEP marketing director and office manager. “Avita’s expertise shortened our learning curve and allowed us to build our organization's infrastructure to keep pace with the tremendous demand for our services. This strategic effort further streamlined our prescription fill processes, making it possible for us to accommodate the additional 5,000 new patients who came to us in 2021 – more than doubling our patient roster in a single year. We are profoundly grateful for our special relationship with Avita and the invaluable support they continue to provide to us. We deeply value all of our partners, as each one has been integral to our success. This year (and arguably every year so far) no other organization is more deserving of our ‘Partner of the Year’ award than Avita Pharmacy.”

Avita provides Music City PrEP finance, marketing, account management, and 340B program support, and engages in activities for patients and communities. Avita’s onsite pharmacy provides a convenient one-stop-shop for holistic care and sexual health for all patients, regardless of their financial status. The close relationship between Music City PrEP and Avita ensures patients get the care and attention they need to stay adherent and achieve better outcomes. Unlike chain pharmacies, Avita has AAHIVP-certified pharmacy teams that specialize in HIV pharmacy care, including PrEP.

“Like Music City PrEP, Avita is committed to changing the conversation around sexual health in the community to foster healthy sex esteem, self-respect and healthy, loving sexual relationships,” said Michael Yount, Avita CEO. “Avita is a true strategic partner and fully aligns with Music City PrEP’s goal of providing compassionate, shame-free, high-quality healthcare in a welcoming and professional environment.”

Avita partners with covered entities to provide expertise in HIV, PrEP, HCV and LGBTQ+ care, personalized delivery, 24/7 pharmacist access, financial assistance and behind-the-scenes support to coordinate with the patient’s healthcare provider and insurance company to address challenges and reduce barriers to care for patients.

About Avita

Avita is a national pharmacy services organization that unlocks the full potential of health for covered entity partners and individuals with unique health needs. As a full-service pharmacy, Avita has proven experience in 340B program administration and onsite pharmacy management. The Avita team has deep expertise in understanding and addressing the needs of communities disproportionately affected by complex health conditions, as well as HIV, PrEP, STI and LGBTQ+ care. Avita provides care for more than 100,000 patients through over 250 covered entity relationships at 60 pharmacies nationwide. Avita is the largest independent nationwide provider of pharmacy services and solutions for Ryan White/STD Grantees, AIDS Service Organizations, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). For more information, visit www.avitapharmacy.com.

About Music City PrEP Clinic

Music City PrEP Clinic is a sexual health and wellness clinic whose mission is to get to zero new HIV transmissions in Nashville and Middle Tennessee by providing free PrEP and PEP prescriptions regardless of income or insurance status. Services include discreet, no-cost lab testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, as well as hepatitis A, B and C testing. Founded in 2017, Music City PrEP provides services for more than 8,500 patients and continues to grow. For more information, visit https://www.musiccityprep.org/.

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