HIV/AIDS

Do you know your HIV status?

Order a free at-home HIV Self-Test Kit to have it shipped directly to you.

Are you living with HIV and need help? Our patient care programs are here for you:

• Housing assistance through HOPWA 
• Medication assistance through ADAP  
• Medical care through Ryan White Part B

You can even apply for assistance online.

Do you want to prevent HIV? Get PrEP’d!

HIV is a life-threatening virus that damages the body's immune system and leaves a person vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Because there is no cure, reducing the transmission of HIV while minimizing its effect on those living with it is critical.

Florida has adopted a comprehensive strategic approach to prevent HIV transmission and strengthen patient care activities.

Florida’s Plan to Eliminate HIV Transmission and Reduce HIV-Related Deaths

Four Key Components

1. Implement routine HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening in health care settings and priority testing in non-health care settings
2. Provide rapid access to treatment and ensure retention in care
3. Improve and promote access to antiretroviral PrEP and nPEP
4. Increase HIV awareness and community response through outreach, engagement, and messaging

1. Implement Routine Testing

Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should have an HIV test in their lifetime. Those with ongoing risks should be tested more frequently, as should pregnant women, who should be tested in their first and third trimester.

• Talk with your health care provider or locate a testing site near you
• Learn about consent requirements and model protocols

2. Provide Rapid Access to Treatment and Ensure Retention in Care

People living with HIV who take antiretroviral medication as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.

The Florida Department of Health's program helps newly diagnosed people or those returning to care by providing:

• Immediate linkage to a clinician who can provide:
  • Access to antiretroviral medications
  • Medical assessments
  • Education on HIV and HIV management
    
• Linkage to case management to help with accessing community resources 

For ongoing HIV care, our Patient Care and Treatment Access Program can provide help:

• Housing assistance through HOPWA 
• Medication assistance through ADAP  
• Medical care through Ryan White Part B

Learn more about HIV medical and support services in your area by contacting the Florida AIDS Hotline.

• In English: 1-800-FLA-AIDS or 1-800-352-2437
• En Espanol: 1-800-545-SIDA
• In Creole: 1-800-AIDS-101

3. Improve Access to PrEP and nPEP

PrEP and PEP are both part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. PrEP is a preventative tool for people at risk of acquiring HIV.

PEP is a stopgap measure for people who have had a potential HIV exposure. Both involve using antiretroviral medications to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to HIV-negative individuals.

Learn more about PrEP and PEP

4. Increase HIV Awareness and Community Response

Knowledge and understanding of HIV, prevention strategies, and available resources to live healthy are critical to reducing HIV in Florida.

The Florida Department of Health offers numerous HIV prevention strategies to benefit the health of Florida’s communities. 

Florida has two AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs), which provide comprehensive resources for health care providers in the treatment and prevention of HIV:

• North Florida AETC with the University of Florida Health
• South Florida AETC with the University of Miami Medical School