Academy Advocates Champion ADAP in Florida

In January the Florida Department of Health (DOH) announced changes to the Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP): It would slash eligibility from 400 percent to 130 percent of the Federal Poverty level (FPL); remove the premium assistance framework entirely; and restrict access to first-line HIV medications – all effective March 1. Further, DOH attempted to implement these changes without going through the formal rulemaking required by law. AIDS Health Foundation (AHF) filed a legal challenge, forcing DOH into the public rulemaking process it tried to skip.

By ending its payment of premiums, Florida has gutted the program’s largest source of revenue, forcing the program to survive on more limited state and federal dollars. Without that major budget source, the state can’t support all of the roughly 30,000 people who rely on the drug assistance program.

On February 11, DOH published its Notice of Proposed Rule (NPR) starting mandatory procedural clocks that made it legally impossible to adopt this rule by March 1. However, DOH has not withdrawn that deadline.

March 4 is the last day to submit written comments. Here are several key messages these comments could address.

1. March 1 is not legally possible.
2. Drug cuts are not codified in the NPR.
3. The state’s math does not add up.
4. The permanent fix is a legislative appropriation to restore the program to 400 percent FPL.

Florida Members Should Contact Your Legislators

You may use this link to send a message to your state legislators urging them to restore ADAP funding and block these cuts. You should also consider writing to your legislators and the Governor. Call their office and send them messages on social media as well.

Academy members outside of Florida should prepare to champion state ADAPs across the country. Other states are considering similar cost containment measures that may threaten ADAP access nationwide. We want to help save these life-sustaining ADAP programs. If you are interested in participating in this work group please contact us at chauncey@aahivm.org by EOD on Friday, February 27.

ACTION ALERTS

Action Alert for Cuts to HIV Funding
Use this AIDS United action alert to tell your Senators and Representatives that they must do everything they can to stop unlawful cuts to essential programs serving people with and at risk of HIV, and ensure this Administration does not weaponize public health spending already appropriated by Congress.

ACADEMY STATEMENTS

On February 4, the Academy issued a statement addressing final congressional approval of the FY2026 budget.

On February 9, the Academy joined Families USA in a sign on letter urging Congress to codify clinics as “sensitive locations” through legislation in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bills.

On February 13, the Academy issued a statement condemning the partisan targeting of HIV and STI prevention programs.

On February 18, the Academy joined HPAC in a sign-on letter urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure continued, stable federal funding for community-based organizations (CBOs).

RESOURCES

Save HIF Funding Resources

These Save HIV Funding toolkit and training videos will help you respond to proposed cost containment strategies by states like Florida.