In continuing to speak out in opposition to proposed cuts to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), advocates with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host simultaneous protests at the local Florida Department of Health offices in Orlando, Florida and in St. Petersburg, Florida. The protests are scheduled for 10:30am ET on Friday, January 30, 2026.
In continuing to stand up against the proposed cuts to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), advocates with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host simultaneous protests at the local department of health offices in Orlando, Florida and St. Petersburg, Florida. Taking place at 10:30am ET on Friday, January 30, 2026, the protests will take place at 205 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, FL and 932 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL.
WHAT: |
Protests Opposing Florida Department of Health Cuts to HIV/AIDS Care | |
WHEN: |
Friday, January 30, 2026 | |
| 10:30am ET | ||
WHERE: |
ORLANDO: 932 W. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL | |
| ST. PETERSBURG: 205 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, FL | ||
WHO: |
Healthcare Advocates from across Florida with AIDS Healthcare Foundation | |
WHY: |
Advocates are demanding that the Florida Department of Health reverse cuts to the ADAP program, warning that reduced funding will jeopardize access to lifesaving HIV medications, increase preventable illness and death, and undermine decades of progress in HIV prevention and treatment. Florida has one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the nation, making sustained ADAP funding critical for public health. |
The protests continue on-going advocacy led by AHF since the ADAP announcement, including a law suit filed against DOH earlier this week.
“The actions of the Florida Department of Health need to be immediately reversed. We understand there are budget pressures, but the solution cannot be cutting thousands of Floridians from lifesaving care. We’re calling on the state to find a path forward that keeps patients in care,” stated Esteban Wood, AHF Southern Bureau Director of Legislative Affairs.
Beginning March 1, 2026, Florida ADAP will reduce the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income eligibility threshold for uninsured clients from 400% FPL to 130% FPL; only provide medication copays for insured clients; eliminate all assistance for insurance premiums; eliminate access to highly used HIV medications like Biktarvy; limit access to other single-tablet HIV/AIDS medications, and eliminate insurance rebates provided by ADAP. These changes will directly impact more than 16,000, working Floridians who rely on insurance and ADAP support to maintain their life-saving care. The stated cuts will not only have a negative impact on maintaining care for individuals living with the virus but also in controlling an increase in new diagnosis rates across the state, which ranks #3 nationally for new diagnosis.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260130642182/en/
Contacts
MEDIA CONTACT:
W. Imara Canady, National Director, Communications & Community Engagement, AHF
Cell: 770-940-6555 / Email: imara.canady@ahf.org
