Advocates Protest Florida's Proposed Cuts to HIV/AIDS Care

AHF leads demonstrations in Orlando and St. Petersburg against reductions to the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:39am

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Healthcare advocates with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) are hosting protests in Orlando and St. Petersburg, Florida to oppose the Florida Department of Health's proposed cuts to the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The cuts would reduce income eligibility, eliminate insurance premium assistance, and limit access to critical HIV/AIDS medications for over 16,000 working Floridians who rely on the program.

Why it matters

Florida has one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the country, making sustained ADAP funding critical for public health. The proposed cuts would jeopardize access to lifesaving HIV medications, increase preventable illness and death, and undermine decades of progress in HIV prevention and treatment.

The details

Beginning March 1, 2026, the Florida ADAP will reduce the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income eligibility threshold for uninsured clients from 400% FPL to 130% FPL, only provide medication copays for insured clients, eliminate all assistance for insurance premiums, eliminate access to highly used HIV medications like Biktarvy, limit access to other single-tablet HIV/AIDS medications, and eliminate insurance rebates provided by ADAP.

  • The protests will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:30am ET.
  • The proposed ADAP cuts are set to take effect on March 1, 2026.

The players

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

A global nonprofit organization that provides HIV/AIDS medical care and advocacy.

Florida Department of Health

The state agency responsible for administering the ADAP program in Florida.

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What they’re saying

“The actions of the Florida Department of Health need to be immediately reversed. We understand there are budget pressures, but the solution cannot be cutting thousands of Floridians from lifesaving care. We're calling on the state to find a path forward that keeps patients in care.”

— Esteban Wood, AHF Southern Bureau Director of Legislative Affairs

What’s next

AHF has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Health earlier this week in an effort to block the proposed ADAP cuts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of sustained funding for HIV/AIDS care programs like ADAP, especially in states with high rates of new HIV diagnoses. Advocates are fighting to protect access to lifesaving medications and prevent a public health crisis in Florida.