What Floridians Can Do to Restore ADAP Funding
Note: This post was originally published on February 28th, 2026.
What Is the ADAP Program?
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program is a statewide, federally -funded prescription medication program or low-income people living with HIV in Florida. It currently serves approximately 30,000 Floridians.
On Tuesday, February 24th, the Florida Department of Health filed new emergency rules with the secretary of state’s office severely cutting funding to the ADAP.
If allowed to take effect, the emergency rules would deprive an estimated 16,000 Floridians of the life-saving care provided through the ADAP.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
In 1990, the United States Congress passed the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. The program created by the CARE Act provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS care to 500,000 people across the country through direct grants to clinics.
According to 2025 Johns Hopkins Study, ending federal funding to this program would increase HIV infections in the US by 49% in 5 years.
Last year, the Trump administration proposed nearly $2 billion in federal cuts to HIV care, including to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
The Florida DOH Is Lying
The Florida DOH has publicly claimed that cuts to ADAP are necessary - in part - because of reductions to federal Ryan White Grants.
But
The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) has said that the final Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies funding bill “sustained funding for all parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program”
In partnership with an anonymous ADAP client, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has moved ahead with an administrative challenge to the new emergency rules. According to AHF legal filings, “a funding shortfall doesn’t jeapordize the public’s
health, safety, and welfare, one of the benchmarks required to issue emergency rules”.
How We Show Up Together
The AHF has also filed for an emergency injunction in Florida’s 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County. If their case is allowed to move forward, there will be an evidentiary hearing on:
MARCH 11TH
We should be there. We should be standing in support of the thousands of our neighbors who are about to be stripped of life-saving care.
301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee FL 32301
And in case anyone’s interested, the phone number for the Florida Department of Health is
850-245-4444
UPDATE (April 16th, 2026):
According to March 24th reporting from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed emergency legislation providing bridge funding to restore ADAP access to over 12,000 Floridians.
The bridge funding expires on June 30th, 2026. Long-term funding for the ADAP program will be determined by the FY 2026-27 state budget, and AIDS United cautions that the emergency legislation does not “reverse the discontinuation of premium assistance for ADAP recipients or the removal of Biktarvy from the state formulary.”
What Is Biktarvy?
Biktarvy is the most prescribed medication for HIV/AIDS treatment in the United States. In Florida, more than 60% of ADAP patients depend on Biktarvy. The drug is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company, and costs more than $4,000 a month.
According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Gilead’s exorbitant pricing of Biktarvy is responsible for Florida’s decision to cut the drug from the state formulary and put thousands of patients at risk.
What We Do Now
The Florida state legislature’s willingness and ability to fully fund ADAP after June 30th, 2026 and restore access to Biktarvy may hinge on Gilead lowering Biktarvy prices.
We can certainly pressure Gilead by directly appealing to them as individuals.
Gilead General Contact
333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404
public_affairs@gilead.com
(650) 574 - 3000
But as always, our most effective path towards change is the one we take collectively.
The Florida HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network “advocates for statewide HIV/AIDS resources including education, policies, programs, funding and legislation.” FHAAN provides action alerts, research and education, resources for advocacy and policy, and much more to unite Floridians into an effective coalition fighting for our neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. Join the FHAAN mailing list or apply to be a member.
Connecting with your local advocacy organizations and staying up to date on the latest ADAP funding news will ensure our voices cannot be ignored by the Florida state government or Gilead.
