Florida Legislature Passes Lifesaving Bridge Funds for AIDS Patients
Boca Raton, FL – March 16, 2026 – The Florida Legislature has unanimously passed CS/HB 697, Drug Prices and Coverage, providing funding for the Florida Department of Health to implement the Ryan White Part B AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) through June 30, 2026. The program provides HIV/AIDS medication to low-income Floridians. The provision takes effect upon becoming law and appropriates $30.9 million to the Department of Health for implementation of ADAP through June 30, 2026. The program will remain available to Floridians with an adjusted gross household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Through June 30, 2026, ADAP services must be provided through the distribution of medications directly to eligible Floridians. The measure will reduce both the spread of HIV and hospital visits.
“This amendment is a lifeline to the clients who were kicked off ADAP on March 1. It provides much needed financial assistance for individuals with HIV to get the lifesaving treatment they need,” said State Representative Mitch Rosenwald (D – Oakland Park). “Once Governor DeSantis signs the bill, we will be able to save lives.”
Michael Rajner, Chair of the Broward County Human Rights Board for the Broward County Board of County Commissioner, has been tirelessly working with legislatures in Tallahassee this Session to re-institute the ADAP funding that had been eliminated by the Florida Department of Health. “There’s a lot that has to be done, but it’s a great day,” reported Rajner.
Rajner has it right. When ADAP clients are enrolled in private insurance through ADAP supported premium assistance, the program generates drug manufacturer rebates that more than cover its costs. In Grant Year 2023, rebates totaled $221.8 million against $207.8 million in program costs, producing a $14 million surplus. Premium assistance is what unlocks that revenue. States like Tennessee, Georgia, and Illinois have shown that a premium cap model keeps clients in comprehensive care while keeping the program fiscally strong. Restoring premium assistance after July 1 is the single best step Florida can take to put ADAP on solid financial footing for years to come.
Legislators look forward to working together and with the Department of Health to build on this momentum by restoring premium assistance and ensuring every Floridian in this program has access to the comprehensive care they deserve, demonstrating Florida has the will to protect people living with HIV.
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