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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 mayor's current budget. Angela Strain said JAX Care Connect is "the front door solution to the safety net for uninsured neighbors," and outlined how the Duval Safety Net Collaborative coordinates two federally qualified health centers, four free and charitable clinics and a specialty care network to keep patients in outpatient care.
Presenters offered program statistics and financial figures from their work:
- Dr. Thompson said the Health Link Jax network counts 63 partner organizations, has handled more than 6,200 calls and has "diverted over $10,300,000 and avoided ER costs." He attributed portions of the avoided cost to specific hospitals, saying roughly 21% of callers reported they would otherwise have gone to UF Health's emergency department.
- Speakers representing safety‑net clinics and hospital partners said hospital partners donated advanced care in kind. Angela Strain said hospitals and health partners supported the safety net and that hospital partners donated $23,000,000 in advanced care last year, with St. Vincent's contributing 65% of that donated care.
- Multiple presenters cited local coverage figures and demand: Strain said Duval County has "over 121,000 uninsured neighbors, 219,000 on Medicaid plans, and over 163,000 in the Affordable Care Act," and that JAX Care Connect served 30,000 patients last year.
No formal council vote or budget decision occurred during the briefing. Council Member Boylan told the room that the mayor's proposed budget initially included funds for the programs — he cited roughly $2.5 million proposed to continue Health Link Jax, $750,000 for We Care and $1 million to restore funding for six free and charitable clinics — but that the finance committee had recommended removing much of those dollars. He said he intends to ask the finance committee chair to take the matter up again on Friday and reminded the public that amendments and the final budget vote will come later in the process.
Speakers from clinics and nonprofit partners recounted how funding changes affect day‑to‑day capacity: Mission House's director said full funding had allowed the clinic to double its caseload from 147 to 330 patients in one year; volunteers and clinicians described prevented ER visits, fewer readmissions and decreased medical debt among patients who gained access to primary care.
Patients and community partners urged action. Janika Irvin, who said she obtained care through JAX Care Connect after losing employer insurance, described the programs as lifesaving: "Cutting Jax Care Connect funding and eliminating Health Link Jax...would ship away a lifeline for thousands of families who don't have a backup plan," she said, adding that the services prevented her from incurring medical debt.
Several speakers urged residents to contact council members and the finance committee during the remaining budget process. Council Member Boylan said he planned a series of amendment meetings to allow more public engagement before the council's final budget vote.
The briefing was a fact‑finding session and public comment forum; no ordinance, resolution or appropriation was adopted at the meeting. Further action will depend on the finance committee and the schedule of upcoming budget amendment hearings.
