Legislature Restores Funding for AIDS Drug Assistance Program

In a rare moment of unanimous agreement during an otherwise fractious session, the Florida Legislature passed CS/HB 697, a $31 million stopgap measure to restore eligibility for over 11,000 HIV-positive Floridians who had been cut off from the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The bill, which cleared both chambers without a single dissenting vote, is now headed to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.

The measure addresses what public health advocates have described as a crisis months in the making -- one rooted in federal funding cuts, administrative decisions by the Florida Department of Health, and the growing cost of antiretroviral medications that keep HIV-positive individuals alive and prevent transmission of the virus.

The Crisis That Forced Action

In January 2026, the Florida Department of Health announced sweeping changes to ADAP eligibility, citing a $120 million shortfall caused by reductions in federal funding. The department slashed the income eligibility threshold from 400 percent of the federal poverty level -- approximately $62,600 in annual income -- to just 130 percent, or roughly $20,345. The change was dramatic: thousands of working Floridians who had been managing their HIV through ADAP-funded medications suddenly found themselves ineligible.

The department also withdrew several popular medications from the approved formulary, including Biktarvy, the most widely prescribed once-daily antiretroviral pill in the United States. Additionally, the department stopped paying premiums for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans that many ADAP recipients relied on for broader health coverage.

By March 1, the changes had taken effect. Thousands of Floridians who depended on ADAP to access their HIV medication were cut off, facing the prospect of treatment interruptions that could lead to viral rebound, increased transmission risk, and deteriorating health.

Personal Testimony Drives Legislative Urgency

The human dimension of the crisis was brought into sharp focus by advocates who traveled to Tallahassee to testify before legislative committees. Michael Rajner, an HIV-positive resident of Fort Lauderdale, drove nearly seven hours to appear before a Senate committee and describe the impact of the funding cuts on his life and the lives of others in his community.

"It took me to come up here on a six-and-a-half, seven-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale to testify before a Senate committee to say, 'We have a crisis.'"

-- Michael Rajner, HIV-positive advocate from Fort Lauderdale

Rajner's testimony, and that of other advocates, galvanized lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The bipartisan consensus was striking in a session otherwise dominated by partisan divisions on election law, labor policy, and budget priorities.

What the Bill Does -- and Does Not Do

CS/HB 697 provides $31 million in emergency funding to restore ADAP eligibility through June 30, 2026 -- the end of the current fiscal year. The money will be used to cover prescription costs for individuals who were cut off by the January eligibility changes and to assist with copayments for individuals on Medicare or employer-based insurance plans.

The bill also imposes new accountability requirements on the Department of Health, mandating monthly accounting reports to the Legislature on how ADAP funds are being spent. This provision reflects lawmakers' frustration with the department's handling of the funding shortfall, which many members felt caught the Legislature off guard.

However, the bill has significant limitations. It does not restore coverage for Biktarvy, the once-daily pill that was removed from the formulary; patients taking that medication will need to switch to generic alternatives. And critically, the $31 million is a temporary fix. The funding runs out at the end of June, and a permanent solution will need to be negotiated as part of the broader state budget -- a budget that the Legislature failed to pass before the session ended.

"This is actually something that will absolutely, 100 percent save lives."

-- Rep. Robin Bartleman (D-Weston)

The Path Through the Legislature

HB 697's legislative journey reflected the urgency of the crisis. The bill moved through three House committee stops -- Health Care Facilities and Systems, Budget, and Health and Human Services -- with near-unanimous support at each stop. The Health Care Facilities Subcommittee passed it 15-1 on January 21, the Budget Committee approved it 27-2 on January 27, and the Health and Human Services Committee gave its approval 25-0 on February 26.

The Senate took up the bill on March 10, passing it 38-0 with a technical amendment. The House concurred with the Senate amendment on March 12 with a final vote of 108-0, and the bill was ordered engrossed and enrolled the same day.

What Comes Next

The Governor is expected to sign the bill, but the larger question of ADAP's long-term funding remains unresolved. The $120 million shortfall that prompted the crisis has not been fully addressed, and advocates warn that without a permanent funding solution in the upcoming budget, the state will face the same crisis again when the stopgap money runs out in July.

The budget impasse that ended the 2026 regular session means that a special session or continued negotiations will be needed to finalize the state's spending plan -- and with it, the future of ADAP funding. Health policy advocates can stay ahead of bills like HB 697 with LobbyScape's real-time legislative monitoring. For the more than 11,000 Floridians whose medication coverage has been restored by HB 697, the next few months will be a period of cautious relief tempered by uncertainty.