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A health group is buying five South Florida hospitals for $1.1 billion. Their new owner has strong regional ties.

Dallas-based Steward Health is purchasing North Shore Medical Center, Florida Medical Center, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital and Palmetto General Hospital from Tenet Healthcare Corp., which is also based in Dallas.

Steward, led by Cuban American and Floridian Dr. Ralph de la Torre, is among the largest physician-owned healthcare networks in the U.S., with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 healthcare professionals. In addition to de la Torre, several of Steward’s senior leaders have close ties to South Florida. Dr. Octavio Diaz, Steward’s chief medical officer, previously practiced in South Florida and worked at several of the acquired facilities; while Rubén J. King-Shaw Jr., Steward’s Chief Strategy Officer, served as COO for Neighborhood Health Partnership before becoming Florida’s Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

“As a Floridian with close family ties to the area, I am proud of Steward’s significant investment in the people of South Florida, whose tight-knit communities and vibrant diversity have always represented the very best of American culture,” de la Torre said in a statement.

Steward’s operations will be directed by Dr. Sanjay Shetty, president of Steward North America. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Tenet’s ambulatory facilities, operated by United Surgical Partners International, will remain with Tenet and are not included in the transaction.

 

Source:  Miami Herald

State Senator Rene Garcia and a group of veterans and vets’ advocates are asking the Legislature to move legislation that seeks to increase health care access to Florida’s veterans.
The bill would create the Veterans Care Program within the Agency for Health Care Administration, which would work to get federal money to help find alternative health care options for veterans in the state.
Senator Garcia says it’s need because for some veterans, VA services aren’t easily accessible.

“We don’t want to take anything away from the VA. We want to make sure that we enhance and give and work in conjunction with our federal partners to ensure that, especially those that live in rural areas, have access to quality care and most importantly choice,” said Garcia.

While the bill is steadily moving through the Senate, it’s stalled in the House.
Advocates hope the language can be tagged on to another bill to help push it through the finish line.
Source: WJHG