Newsletter from U.S. Business Action to End HIV, providing the latest actions from the coalition, together with other important news.
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Editorial Note: You can stay informed and receive our monthly Action Report newsletter directly to your inbox by joining the mailing list.
Our Coalition members and partners are kicking off 2026 with a running start, and we love to see it. From empowering local communities to finding new ways to expand access to HIV services, your work is proving what's possible when commitment meets action
This month, we're also proud to highlight a critical moment of Coalition engagement: standing up to protect Floridians living with HIV from losing access to life-saving treatment. Welcome to the February Action Report!
Today, Feb. 27, the Coalition sent a letter to Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo urging a pause on changes to Florida's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) scheduled to take effect on March 1.
The proposed changes — including a reduction in eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level and the elimination of health insurance premium support — would abruptly cut off access to lifesaving treatment for an estimated 16,000 Floridians living with HIV.
As employers, we know that a healthy workforce is the foundation of a strong economy. We are encouraged that both the Florida Senate and House have proposed budgets to address the current funding gap, and we urge the adoption of the Senate's proposed higher level of support.
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This week, the Coalition convened our HIV Leadership Advisory Council to receive guidance from our 11 council members on 2026 priorities and efforts to engage the private sector while keeping community needs top of mind.
The Council comprises distinguished public health leaders whose extensive experience and expertise play a crucial role in shaping the Coalition’s efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.
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“Leading by Example” is an ongoing series that highlights inspiring business leaders who are accelerating progress toward ending the HIV epidemic.
Drexel Shaw
National Patient Advocacy Manager
CVS Health
At CVS Health, our purpose is to simplify health care one person, one family, and one community at a time. Because we’ve been embedded in communities since day one, trust, accessibility, and innovation guide how we show up. We lead with care, accountability, and a commitment to safety and quality, all of which are essential in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV.
We’re leveraging our nationwide footprint to reduce barriers to HIV education, testing, prevention, and treatment by working with cross‑sector partners, including community-based organizations, health departments, employers, and advocacy groups. Through our retail presence, digital platforms, and clinical services, we’re able to amplify awareness, expand access points, and bring resources closer to where people live and work.
Technology and data also help us identify high‑prevalence ZIP codes and tailor interventions that meet the needs of the communities most affected by HIV. This localized approach allows us to align CVS Health’s reach with evidence‑based strategies that strengthen the continuum of HIV care and advance health equity.
Businesses have a critical role to play in ending the HIV epidemic from both a societal and an economic perspective. Employers influence the health benefits their workforce depends on, which directly affects access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Just as importantly, businesses shape workplace culture, and culture strongly impacts non‑clinical factors like stigma.
Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to getting tested, starting treatment, staying on treatment, or even considering prevention. Corporate leadership can help normalize conversations about HIV, reduce stigma, and create supportive environments where employees and communities feel informed and empowered. When businesses engage, they strengthen public health efforts and help build the cultural conditions needed to truly end the epidemic.
CVS Health is most proud of the meaningful progress we’ve made as a corporate leader in the HIV space and the collaborative initiatives we’ve been able to stand up with partners across the industry. By working closely with manufacturers, patient advocacy organizations, academic research institutions, and community groups, we’ve positioned ourselves as a trusted partner of choice.
These partnerships have allowed us to advance innovative programs, expand access points, and help reduce barriers across the HIV care continuum. We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built and equally proud of the collective impact we’ve achieved alongside organizations committed to ending the HIV epidemic.
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Our first quarterly virtual Coalition convening of the year is Wed., March 4, 1-2 p.m. ET. We look forward to convening Coalition Leaders and Members to share our priorities for the year, hear stories of impact, and highlight opportunities for engagement. If you have not already received the calendar invite, please email us endhiv@healthaction.org.
Now in its 37th year, the Walk to End HIV is an annual community event hosted by community partner Allies in Hope that brings together businesses, community members, and supporters to raise awareness and critical funds for the fight to end the HIV epidemic in the Greater Houston area.
If you or your company has a presence in Houston, consider organizing a team, or grab a colleague or friend and join! It's a great way to show support and connect with the local community. Here's how to get involved:
March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a moment to spotlight HIV's impact on women and girls — a population that accounted for 19% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022, yet remains underrepresented in broader HIV conversations. Here's how you can take action leading up to March 10:
This newsletter is made possible with additional support from
Congress rejected House Republicans’ proposed $1.7 billion-plus cuts to domestic HIV programs in the final FY2026 spending bill, preserving bipartisan funding for HIV prevention, the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. With funding stabilized, the focus now shifts to whether the Trump administration can effectively implement HIV and hepatitis programs as advocates warn that growing demand will still strain the system. (Contagion Live)
A conservative ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals allows the Department of Defense to continue banning people living with HIV from joining the U.S. military, overturning a lower-court decision that cited modern medical evidence. Advocates slammed the decision as stigma-driven and disconnected from science, noting that individuals with undetectable viral loads can serve, deploy, and pose no transmission risk. (The Independent)
Lawmakers in Georgia are advancing bipartisan legislation to let pharmacists prescribe and administer PrEP and PEP, aiming to cut costs and expand access in the state with the nation’s highest rate of new HIV infections, especially in rural areas and underserved communities. Supporters call it a potential game changer for reducing stark racial inequities in prevention, though questions remain about how pharmacists will be reimbursed if the bill reaches Gov. Brian Kemp for final approval. (Healthbeat)
A leading Florida Democrat, Carlos Guillermo Smith, urged people living with HIV to stockpile medications as the Florida Department of Health moves ahead with cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program that could affect up to 16,000 patients before the Legislature finalizes a fix. Lawmakers say they are prepared to fund ADAP and block the cuts. Still, the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis is pressing forward, prompting legal action and accusations that the reductions are rushed, unjustified, and dangerous. (Florida Phoenix)
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U.S. Business Action to End HIV was founded in 2022 by the Health Action Alliance, with support from ViiV Healthcare, to mobilize a growing coalition of private sector partners committed to filling gaps and accelerating progress to help end HIV in the U.S. by 2030.
The Health Action Alliance is a unique collaboration between leading business, communications, and public health organizations to help employers navigate evolving health challenges, improve the health of workers, and engage with public health partners to build stronger, healthier communities. Founded in 2021 by the Ad Council, Business Roundtable, CDC Foundation, the de Beaumont Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HAA's network now includes more than 11,000 employers nationwide, reaching a quarter of U.S. workers.
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