Miami health watch: Florida measles totals climb; HIV drug assistance rule changes and insurance contract news

ByWeence

Miami, FL – March 3, 2026 – Measles counts in Florida rose again, while South Florida patients track HIV drug aid changes and key insurance coverage news.

Florida health officials and major health organizations issued several updates in recent days that could affect Miami-area families, patients and providers.

Measles: Miami-Dade listed among counties reporting cases

A Florida Department of Health report cited by CBS News Miami showed measles diagnoses reported for 2026 rising from 92 on Feb. 14 to 114 on Feb. 21. Miami-Dade was listed among the counties with reported cases this year, alongside Broward, Hillsborough and others, with much of the state total tied to an outbreak centered in Collier County.

Separate CDC data updated Feb. 27 showed 107 confirmed measles cases reported in Florida as of Feb. 26, part of a national total of 1,136 confirmed cases. Florida Phoenix reported that the state health department counted 104 confirmed cases through Feb. 21 across 11 counties, including Miami-Dade.

HIV medication assistance: emergency rule takes effect March 1

Florida’s Department of Health enacted an emergency rule changing eligibility for the state AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with the change scheduled to take effect March 1. WLRN and Them.us reported the rule lowers the income threshold used to qualify for help, and advocates said the shift could remove coverage for thousands of Floridians who rely on the program for medication access and, in some cases, insurance premium assistance.

Both reports described legal action seeking to block or overturn the rule. The emergency rule was described as time-limited, remaining in effect for up to 90 days.

Health insurance: Florida Blue agreement keeps Cleveland Clinic in-network

In a separate access-to-care development, Cleveland Clinic announced Feb. 27 it reached a new agreement with Florida Blue. The clinic said the deal keeps Cleveland Clinic providers in-network for members with employer-sponsored plans, Health Insurance Marketplace coverage and Medicare Advantage plans.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported the agreement came ahead of a contract expiration that had been set for March 1, helping patients avoid out-of-network costs at Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Local care pipeline: FIU and Baptist Health clinical site on track for 2028

Miami Today reported that a joint FIU-Baptist Health clinical site planned for Florida International University’s campus remains on track for completion in 2028. Leaders tied the project to expanding clinical training capacity and strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce and research partnerships.

Sources

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/miami/news/florida-measles-cases-jump-third-most-in-country/
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/
https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/27/cdc-florida-has-107-confirmed-measles-cases/
https://www.wlrn.org/light/health/2026-02-25/hiv-aids-medication-assistance-funding
https://www.them.us/story/florida-hiv-aids-funding-medication-access-emergency-rule
https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2026/02/27/cleveland-clinic-and-florida-blue-secure-new-agreement
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/breaking/joint-fiu-baptist-health-clinical-site-on-track-for-2028-use/

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

Brian 'Weence' Bateman is a seasoned medical and health writer with over a decade of experience in web development, search optimization, and social media for dentists and healthcare providers. His in-depth knowledge and dedication to the field are evident in the meticulously researched and informative content he produces.

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