For the past two months, DOH has been cutting ADAP clients off without following required rulemaking procedures. AHF filed suit in January, and an administrative hearing was scheduled for February 25. The night before that hearing, DOH filed emergency rules at midnight. The rules do what DOH intended from the start: the eligibility threshold for direct ADAP medication assistance drops from 400% to 130% FPL, and the insurance premium assistance program is terminated. Both changes take effect this Sunday, March 1, impacting an estimated 16,000 Floridians.

Both chambers have included ADAP bridge funding in their draft budgets (House at $68M, Senate at $118M with eligibility locked at 400% FPL). The final number will be decided in conference over the next 10 days before session ends March 13. However, the budget does not take effect until the Governor signs it into law and the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

ACTION ITEM: PUBLIC COMMENTS
The comment window closes Wednesday, March 4. If your organization hasn't submitted yet, now is the time. Volume matters. Submit here (click "Make a Comment"): https://flrules.org/Gateway/View_notice.asp?id=30517381