Florida Restores ADAP Access, But Our Fight Continues
AIDS United Urges Governor DeSantis To Sign the Urgent Legislation Into Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Miguel Ayala – communications@aidsunited.org
(202) 876-2820
WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the Florida Legislature approved a key amendment from Rep. Jason Brodeur that would allocate $30 million to the Florida ADAP program, ensuring that all ADAP enrollees up to 400% of the federal poverty level will continue to maintain access to the program. However, the amendment doesn’t reverse the discontinuation of premium assistance for ADAP recipients or the removal of Biktarvy from the state formulary.
We urge Governor DeSantis to swiftly sign the budget proposal that includes emergency funding to the FL ADAP program. Any delay in signing this measure only furthers the anxiety that thousands of people with HIV in Florida have experienced since this unjust decision was announced in January.
We are relieved that the state will ensure that all Florida ADAP enrollees have access to the program to maintain their HIV medication regimens. In our society, people with HIV should never have to worry about whether they will have access to medications that allow them to live.
We are also pleased that the amendment requires the Florida Department of Health to issue monthly budgeting reports to the legislature beginning on April 1, 2026. This will enable crucial transparency around congressionally authorized taxpayer funds on this lifesaving program.
However, we also demand that state leaders work on a solution that will enable premium assistance, as people with HIV depend on consistent and reliable insurance coverage for a range of medical services. People with HIV are not solely navigating life with an HIV diagnosis but also experience a range of other comorbidities and pre-existing conditions that impact all people over the course of a lifespan. People with HIV are whole people with a range of medical concerns. We cannot be satisfied with a solution that leaves people with HIV vulnerable to inadequate healthcare.
Further, we continue to oppose Florida’s removal of Biktarvy from the state formulary for ADAP enrollees. Biktarvy is one of the most widely prescribed HIV treatment regimens in the United States and is recommended as a preferred first-line therapy in the federal HIV treatment guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It has become a standard of care because it provides durable viral suppression, is well tolerated by patients, and has a high barrier to drug resistance.
Forcing patients to switch medications for non-clinical reasons can introduce unnecessary risk, including side effects, adherence challenges, or potential loss of viral suppression. Decisions about HIV treatment should be guided by clinicians and patients based on medical evidence, not by formulary restrictions that disrupt stable care. The removal of a guideline recommended therapy from the state formulary jeopardizes patient health.
Once signed into law by the Governor, people with HIV receiving ADAP services will be able to continue to receive their HIV medications through the FL ADAP program, our fight is not over.
We continue to urge congressional leaders and state representatives across Florida and the nation to fully appreciate the necessity of uninterrupted HIV treatment. Real lives are impacted by ADAP eligibility cuts and restrictions. Draconian proposals put an undue emotional toll on people with HIV.
We will work with our congressional partners to advocate for robust Ryan White Part B funding in the FY27 budget to ensure states can consistently and equitably provide HIV treatment for all who require it.
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AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building and policy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV-related policy for populations and communities most impacted by the U.S. epidemic As of January 2021, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $118 million to local communities, and we have leveraged more than $184 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to, syringe access, access to care, capacity-building, HIV prevention and advocacy.