Miami – As our community faces the critical challenges confronting Jackson Health System, it is gratifying to see the continued support of our state leaders in Tallahassee. Leaders of Jackson Health System and Miami-Dade County would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Florida Legislature, particularly the Miami-Dade Delegation and notably Representative David Rivera for ongoing and unwavering support of the County and JHS in their shared mission of providing medical care to all those who need it in our community. As outlined in the state’s proposed budget, Jackson could receive $25 million from the general Revenue Fund and $25 million from the Medical Care Trust Fund.
The funding – which would be appropriated if Congress votes to allocate additional Medicaid dollars – will go a long way in the short-term in assisting Jackson as it struggles through its current financial crisis.
From day one, David Rivera, in his role as both State Representative and Chair of the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care, has aggressively and tirelessly worked to bring funding back to support Jackson and provide much-needed aid to the health system in its time of need.
“On behalf of the administration, Chairman Dennis C. Moss and the Board of County Commissioners, we are extremely grateful to every member of the State Legislature for their support of Jackson Health System. I especially want to acknowledge State Representative and Chair of the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care David Rivera for his leadership role in securing these much-needed funds,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. “Miami-Dade County government is doing all it can to work in partnership with the Public Health Trust and Jackson Health System, so it can stabilize its short and long-term operations and finances. We have a moral responsibility to the poor and uninsured, patients and taxpayers in our community.”
Jackson Health System – the only public health system in Miami-Dade and the largest public safety-net hospital in Florida – is facing a $230 million deficit. The health system has been severely impacted by the downturn in the economy, decreases in tax and funding support, a slow down in payments from third party payors, and significant increases in charity care.
“All of us at Jackson Health System are exceptionally appreciative of the unwavering support and dedication that our state lawmakers have shown for Jackson,” said Jackson Health System President and CEO Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. “We are especially grateful for the assistance and encouragement from State Representative Rivera, who literally worked into the night in support of our needs. He aggressively pursued this additional funding, which will be of great help to our health system as we work through our current deficit. We are committed to continuing to work with the county on moving forward and continuing to improve our processes and procedures.”
Jackson is comfortable and committed to meeting all necessary conditions for receipt of the funding.
