On March 1, Florida’s Department of Health reduced ADAP eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level. Any single person making over $20,748 per year will no longer be eligible. Families of four making $42,900 will be deemed ineligible.
Florida also ended all premium assistance for health insurance and dropped Biktarvy, the most prescribed HIV medication, from its formulary. More than 16,000 Floridians could lose access to medication assistance because of the changes!
We can and must reverse these horrific actions: It is urgent that decision makers hear from people who are affected by these changes. Here are two things you can do right now to hold the Florida Department of Health accountable:
Floridians living with HIV should find out how these changes will affect their care by:
1. Calling your clinic or case manager to verify if you will still have access to your medications and care. You can find a local HIV Service organization to request support HERE.
2. Requesting a 90-day supply of HIV medications to ensure you have access for the next few months.
3. If you are on Biktarvy, apply for the Gilead Advancing Access patient assistance program.
Because of community activism, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has opened the ACA Marketplace’s Special Enrollment Period so that Floridians who’ve lost their premium subsidy coverage through ADAP can change their plans ( https://www.cms.gov/…/special-enrollment-period-florida… ).
This is proof that your advocacy is working!
This moment is scary, but PWN-USA is with you!