Melissa Ross
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown has sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell “requesting direct discussions” with HHS to prevent closing UF Health in Jacksonville.
“Jacksonville and other communities with safety-net hospitals must not be held hostage by the actions or inactions of decision-makers in Tallahassee,” Brown writes. A copy of the letter was emailed to local media outlets.
“In order to protect our patients, medical professionals and local economy, I hereby request direct discussions with the Department of Health and Human Services to forestall any service impacts on UF Health Jacksonville in the event Florida’s LIP and/or Medicaid issues are not soon resolved.”
Brown closes by asking for the opportunity to speak with Burwell either by telephone or in person.
UF Health faces a $95 million budget shortfall and is at risk of closing its doors if the standoff over healthcare funding in the state is not soon resolved, CEO Russ Armistead said.
Armistead is cc’ed on Brown’s letter to Burwell, along with U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio, and other officials.
