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Jacksonville council hears appeals to restore funding for JAX Care Connect and Health Link Jax
Summary
Physicians, hospital leaders, clinic directors and patients told a City Council briefing that JAX Care Connect, Health Link Jax and safety-net clinic funding reduce emergency-room use, avoid taxpayer costs and prevent medical debt; presenters urged reinstatement of budgeted dollars removed by the finance committee.
Council Member Boylan convened a public briefing at City Hall to hear presentations and public comment urging the City Council to restore proposed budget funding for JAX Care Connect, Health Link Jax and the Duval County safety-net clinics.
Speakers — including physician and program co‑founder Dr. Matthew Thompson, Ascension Saint Vincent's Riverside Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mario Pulido, We Care Executive Director Angela Strain and program client Janika Irvin — described the programs as a front‑door system that diverts avoidable emergency‑room and ambulance use, connects uninsured residents to a primary care medical home and reduces medical debt.
"It keeps the uninsured Duval County residents out of the ER and out of ambulances if they don't need to be there," said Dr. Matthew Thompson, describing Health Link Jax's 24/7 access to nurse navigators, board‑certified emergency physicians and outreach teams that follow up after hospital discharges.
The briefing focused on three points: program operations, evidence of cost savings and the funding gap created in the…
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