Florida HIV Program Eligibility Cuts Spark Calls for Public Health Emergency Declaration
Advocates and healthcare organizations are urging a public health emergency declaration in Florida following the state Department of Health’s announcement of significant cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The changes, scheduled to take effect March 1, 2026, will reduce income eligibility for the program from 400% of the federal poverty level to 130%. This adjustment is expected to disqualify approximately 10,000 to 16,000 current enrollees from accessing state-subsidized HIV medications.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) attributes the decision to a projected $120 million funding shortfall. State officials contend that the deficit stems from the federal government’s failure to extend enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), combined with rising insurance premiums and healthcare costs. According to the DeSantis administration, these economic factors necessitate stricter “fiscal sustainability” measures to preserve the program for the most financially vulnerable residents.
In response, public health advocates and opinion writers argue that the abrupt reduction in services requires an immediate emergency response to prevent a resurgence of the epidemic. Groups such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and AIDS United assert that cutting access to antiretroviral therapy will lead to increased viral loads among patients, higher transmission rates, and ultimately greater long-term costs for the state’s healthcare system. Critics emphasize that viral suppression is a key component of HIV prevention, known as “Treatment as Prevention.”
Advocates are specifically calling for a formal public health emergency declaration, which could unlock emergency state reserves or allow for federal intervention to bridge the funding gap before the March deadline. The AHF has also filed a legal petition challenging the state’s action, alleging that the Department of Health failed to follow mandatory administrative rule-making procedures, such as public hearings and impact studies, before implementing the policy change.
Florida currently holds one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the United States. The ADAP program has historically served as a safety net for low-to-moderate-income residents who lack adequate insurance coverage for expensive life-saving medications. Under the new rules, an individual earning approximately $21,000 a year would no longer qualify for the program, a threshold advocates claim will leave thousands with no viable way to afford treatment.
floridapolitics.com
mygwork.com
aidsunited.org
advocate.com
tampabay.com
wusf.org
