UF Health

After months of negotiations, the two sides finalized a new multiyear contract that will restore insurance network access to about 100,000 UF Health patients in Gainesville, Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

This agreement means UF Health has only one insurance negotiation outstanding – and the impasse wih United HealthCare is in its seventh month.

The CEO/CMO of UF Health Physicians says negotiations with United are closer to reaching an agreement for how the health system will be reimbursed for Medicaid coverage, a primary obstacle.

Details of the insurance agreement is starting to come into focus for Northeast Florida patients. Meantime, an impasse remains in negotiations between United Healthcare and UF Health.

United Healthcare is excluding University of Florida health facilities from its network, starting this week, according to UF Health.

The UF Health facility in one of Gainesville's poorest neighborhoods opens after a construction process funded by city, county and federal dollars. More than 12,000 patients are expected annually.

More facilities are partnering with private equity-backed firms to offer combined emergency and urgent care. But patients may not realize prices vary between the two services — often by a lot.

A UF Health representative cited leadership changes for pressing pause, according to a report. Jupiter Medical Center plans to move forward with the project.

The Senate passed a plan that would designate at least four behavioral health teaching hospitals as lawmakers look to improve care for people with mental health and substance abuse issues.

The Jacksonville Council Auditor’s Office cites rising debt, a costly deal with the city jail and a worsening deficit ior treating poor people,