AHF Receives Expedited Florida Hearing Opposing ADAP Reductions

Group sued Florida DOH over rules cutting lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment for thousands

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) asked for and received an expedited hearing schedule in its legal efforts to block harmful changes to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Plan (ADAP). It is estimated that 16,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS could lose access to life-saving medications and health insurance if these cuts go through. AHF and an ADAP recipient have brought an administrative suit to block these changes.

The cuts are scheduled to begin March 1. Under normal administrative procedures and timing rules, a decision on AHF’s case would not be reached until after March 1, making it too late to stop the cuts from being implemented. However, AHF asked for an expedited hearing schedule to get a decision before the cuts go into effect. The administrative law judge (ALJ), understanding the dire health impacts on these 16,000 should the cuts occur, agreed to move the case along more quickly.

The case will be heard on February 18, and the ALJ intends to issue a ruling on February 27. AHF is heartened that the ALJ understands the potential impacts these cuts represent and agreed to resolve this matter before the cuts would go into effect. If AHF is successful, these cuts will be prevented from occurring on March 1.

In its petition, filed Tuesday in Tallahassee, AHF asserted the Florida’s Department of Health illegally changed rules regarding income eligibility thresholds for its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), without having gone through the mandatory rulemaking process. AHF’s petition was filed Tuesday with Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings and prepared by Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A. of Tallahassee, Florida.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.8 million individuals across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. In January 2025, AHF received the MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award, The King Center’s highest recognition for an organization leading work in the social justice arena. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.