In a notice published earlier today, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) retreated on its decision to make cuts to the State's AIDS drug program, which provides life-saving medications and health insurance support to over 30,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS. Alleging that an undocumented $120 million budget shortfall necessitated the cuts, the cuts to the program, originally scheduled to be enacted on March 1st, would adversely impact the life-saving care for over 16,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS.
The State will now go through formal rulemaking to make changes to the program. This comes after AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) brought suit alleging the Department violated the law by not going through this process.
“The Department's action makes clear that legal processes have not been followed. Floridians will now have a say in what happens to this program and its effect on them. It will also provide needed transparency, as the Department has not shown why it needs to make these harmful changes, and show how it now has a claimed $120 million deficit. This program should be fully funded to continue the care needed by thousands across Florida,” stated Esteban Wood, AHF Director of Advocacy & Legislative Affairs, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“We implore the department to be transparent and release the documents that indicate why the initial decision to cut HIV/AIDS care was made and where is the rebate money they receive from drug companies to support this program,” stated Michael Weinstein, AHF President
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AHF Advocates from across Florida protest at the @FloridaDOH in Tallahassee in opposition to drastic cuts to Florida's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (#ADAP), which provides access to life-saving medications and medical care for thousands of Floridians living with #HIV/AIDS. #SaveADAP
We cannot end the HIV epidemic while gutting ADAP and forcing thousands to lose access to meds and care. Budget cuts that rip away meds is dangerous and will cost lives as well as billions in future care. Reverse this decision today. #SaveADAP@RAlexAndradeFL@votegonzalezp
ADAP is often the last safety net keeping people with HIV in care. Gutting it will leave thousands without meds and will cause dangerous gaps in treatment. You must not reduce ADAP access or cut HIV meds. Reverse this decision NOW! #SaveADAP
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
@aidshealthcare we stand against hate because racism is a public health issue — and AIDS is a civil rights issue. This work continues today, through action and advocacy.
@jenna_persons Reverse ADAP cuts NOW! Gutting ADAP and cutting key HIV meds means treatment gaps, more hospitalizations, more HIV transmission. STOP the ADAP cuts and protect lifesaving HIV care now. #SaveADAP
@rondesantisfl Reverse ADAP cuts NOW! Gutting ADAP and cutting key HIV meds means treatment gaps, more hospitalizations, more HIV transmission. STOP the ADAP cuts and protect lifesaving HIV care now. #SaveADAP