Florida Retreats on Planned HIV/AIDS Drug Program Cuts

State will now go through formal rulemaking process after legal action by AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has retreated on its decision to make cuts to the State's AIDS drug program, which provides life-saving medications and health insurance support to over 30,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS. The cuts, originally scheduled to be enacted on March 1st, would have adversely impacted the care for over 16,000 Floridians. The State will now go through formal rulemaking to make any changes to the program, after AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) brought suit alleging the Department violated the law by not following proper procedures.

Why it matters

The reversal of the planned cuts to Florida's AIDS drug program is a significant victory for the HIV/AIDS community in the state, ensuring continued access to critical life-saving medications and support services. The formal rulemaking process will also provide much-needed transparency around the Department's rationale for the proposed cuts and the claimed $120 million budget shortfall.

The details

The Florida DOH had originally planned to make cuts to the State's AIDS drug program, citing an undocumented $120 million budget shortfall. However, after AHF brought suit alleging the Department violated the law by not going through the proper formal rulemaking process, the DOH has now retreated on its decision and will pursue changes to the program through the required legal channels.

  • The cuts were originally scheduled to be enacted on March 1, 2026.
  • The DOH's retreat on the planned cuts was published earlier today, on February 4, 2026.

The players

Florida Department of Health (DOH)

The state agency responsible for administering Florida's AIDS drug program, which provides life-saving medications and health insurance support to over 30,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

The world's largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, which provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.8 million individuals across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe.

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What they’re saying

“The Department's action makes clear that legal processes have not been followed. Floridians will now have a say in what happens to this program and its effect on them. It will also provide needed transparency, as the Department has not shown why it needs to make these harmful changes, and show how it now has a claimed $120 million deficit. This program should be fully funded to continue the care needed by thousands across Florida.”

— Esteban Wood, AHF Director of Advocacy & Legislative Affairs, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Business Wire)

“We implore the department to be transparent and release the documents that indicate why the initial decision to cut HIV/AIDS care was made and where is the rebate money they receive from drug companies to support this program.”

— Michael Weinstein, AHF President (Business Wire)

What’s next

The Florida Department of Health will now go through the formal rulemaking process to make any changes to the state's AIDS drug program, providing an opportunity for public input and greater transparency around the Department's rationale for the proposed cuts.

The takeaway

This reversal by the Florida Department of Health is a significant victory for the HIV/AIDS community in the state, ensuring continued access to critical life-saving medications and support services. The formal rulemaking process will help to restore trust and accountability in the administration of this vital program.