Florida Covers Up AIDS Cuts by Asking for $700K Ransom Says AHF

Move is more evidence of a Department of Health cover-up following its violation of Florida’s legal rulemaking process and a gross violation of the letter and spirit of Florida's very clear sunshine law

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today issued a $786,507.36 photocopying invoice for public records to AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)—in essence, a ransom note—in response to a public records act lawsuit filed last week by AHF to obtain files from the DOH over illegal cuts to its AIDS programs.

AHF filed a public records lawsuit February 2 to ascertain details regarding an undocumented $120 million Health Department budget shortfall claimed by the state which has resulted in proposed cuts to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The cuts will cut off access to life-saving HIV medications and medical care to as many as 16,000 Floridians living with HIV.

In a letter accompanying the DOH invoice dated yesterday (2/11), Lori Huskisson, Chief Legal Counsel for Florida’s Department of Health, wrote, “Please be advised that the Department requires full payment of the estimated invoice before we proceed with further processing, review or production of records.”

“This is flat out extortion to cover the Department of Health’s violation of Florida’s legal rulemaking process,” Michael Weinstein, President of AHF. “This is a ransom note effectively crafted to prevent any information about the DOH’s arbitrary, illegal, and punitive move to rewrite ADAP eligibility, a very clear violation of Florida’s sunshine law, and a move that threatens the lives of thousands of Floridians living with HIV.”

“DOH is charging three quarters of a million dollars to produce programmatic data during an active rulemaking proceeding—one which requires a 21-day window for public comment—effectively pricing the public out of meaningful participation in a process that will determine whether 16,000 Floridians keep access to lifesaving HIV medications,” said Esteban Wood, Director of Advocacy, Legislative Affairs & Community Engagement.

In a separate, related legal petition, filed January 27, 2026 in Tallahassee, AHF asserted the state’s Department of Health illegally changed those rules regarding income eligibility thresholds for its ADAP program without having gone through the mandatory rulemaking process. DOH intends to slash ADAP income eligibility from 400% to 130% of the Federal Poverty Level and eliminate insurance premium assistance entirely. FPL is approximately $20,345 annually for a single person.

AHF has been granted an expedited hearing on that petition scheduled for February 18, 2026, with a final ruling to be issued on or before February 27, 2026.

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.