Florida Cuts to AIDS Drug Program Threaten Patient Care

Proposed budget reductions could remove financial support for 16,000 low-income HIV patients to access lifesaving medications

Feb. 25, 2026 at 1:30am

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The Florida Department of Health has announced plans to cut funding for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which helps more than 31,000 Floridians with HIV/AIDS afford care. These changes, set to go into effect on March 1, would tighten eligibility requirements and stop the program from purchasing health insurance for patients, potentially leading to worse health outcomes, increased HIV transmission, and higher healthcare costs in the state.

Why it matters

Florida has the second-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the country, and the proposed cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program could jeopardize access to critical treatment and care for thousands of low-income residents living with HIV/AIDS. This could reverse progress made in reducing HIV-related complications, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state.

The details

The Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program, funded through the federal Ryan White CARE Act, provides access to medication and insurance coverage for low-income, HIV-positive Floridians. The proposed cuts would lower the eligibility threshold from 400% of the federal poverty level to 130%, immediately removing financial support used by about 16,000 patients. The program would also stop purchasing health insurance for eligible patients and change the list of covered drugs, removing the recommended and most commonly prescribed HIV treatment, Biktarvy.

  • The proposed cuts are set to go into effect on March 1, 2026.
  • The Florida Department of Health says it is facing a $120 million budget shortfall.

The players

Jonathan Appelbaum

A professor emeritus at the College of Medicine at Florida State University and a practicing clinician in the Tallahassee area who specializes in HIV/AIDS treatment.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

A national HIV advocacy and provider network that is suing the Florida Department of Health to require the normal rulemaking process for changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida, who has line-item veto authority over the state's final budget.

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What they’re saying

“We worry that if the drug assistance program is cut, Florida could see a return to the days of increasing HIV-related complications, hospitalizations and deaths.”

— Jonathan Appelbaum, Professor Emeritus, College of Medicine, Florida State University

What’s next

An administrative judge has approved an expedited hearing for the lawsuit filed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and will issue a ruling before March 1. Meanwhile, the Florida Senate and House have attempted to include additional funding for the program in their respective budget proposals, but the final budget won't be voted on until later this March.

The takeaway

The proposed cuts to Florida's AIDS Drug Assistance Program could have devastating consequences for thousands of low-income residents living with HIV/AIDS, potentially reversing progress made in the state and leading to worse health outcomes, increased HIV transmission, and higher healthcare costs. This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining access to affordable, comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment, especially in states with high rates of new diagnoses.