Orlando, FL —  FL NOW with Equality FL and numerous others is sounding the alarm over the Florida Department of Health’s planned cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), scheduled to take effect on March 1st, and is urging state leadership to declare a public health emergency to halt the changes before lives are put at risk.

ADAP is a critical safety‑net program that provides life-saving HIV medications to low‑income and uninsured Floridians. The proposed cuts would abruptly strip tens of thousands of people of access to the antiretroviral treatment they rely on to stay healthy, suppress viral load, and prevent transmission.

“These cuts are not just bureaucratic adjustments — they are a direct threat to human life,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “Florida already leads the nation in new HIV infections. Removing access to essential medication will reverse decades of progress, destabilize community viral suppression, and create the conditions for a preventable surge in new cases.”

Lack of Transparency and a $120 Million Funding Gap

The Department has indicated a potential $120 million funding gap in this crucial safety‑net program, yet no public ADAP budget information has been released since 2024, despite repeated requests from stakeholders. Before taking such drastic action, Florida must provide transparency about how ADAP funds have been sourced, spent, and why this shortfall exists. Slashing access to care without public accountability is unacceptable.

Abrupt Cuts Leave Patients with No Time to Secure Alternatives

Equally troubling is the lack of meaningful notice to people who rely on ADAP. Ending health insurance assistance on March 1st leaves enrollees no realistic time or ability to secure alternatives, including the opportunity to change ACA coverage. Many will be left responsible for insurance costs they cannot afford, with no pathway to continuity of care.

The removal of widely used, highly effective medications such as Biktarvy and Descovy raises serious concerns about treatment adherence, viral suppression, and long‑term health outcomes.

Public Health Consequences Will Be Immediate and Severe

Sustained ADAP access is critical in a state that continues to experience one of the highest rates of new HIV infections in the nation. Disrupting treatment will lead to:

• Loss of viral suppression
• Worsened health outcomes
• Aggravation of co‑occurring conditions such as substance use, mental health challenges, and homelessness
• Increased risk of preventable HIV transmission
• Death of hundreds of people afflicted by HIV. HIV impacts the general public.

These outcomes harm both individuals and public health. Lives are on the line.

Call to Action

FL NOW urges the Florida Department of Health to:

• Immediately reverse course and halt the planned ADAP cuts
• Declare a Public Health Emergency to protect access to HIV treatment
• Release full, transparent budget information explaining the alleged funding gap
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify responsible, community-centered solutions

“Every Floridian deserves access to life-saving care; Every Floridian deserves to live,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “We cannot allow political decisions to dismantle the very programs that keep our communities healthy and safe. The state must act now.”