Opposition to a proposed hospital district consolidation in Broward County is no longer confined to polling data.
Advocacy group Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability announced that more than 1,800 Broward residents have submitted letters to the county’s legislative delegation urging them to reject HB 1047, which would allow taxpayer-funded hospital districts to merge or enter joint ventures without voter approval.
The letters were hand-delivered this week as the proposal continues languishing in both chambers. The House version hasn’t made an agenda yet; the Senate version (SB 1122) was temporarily postponed in its first stop earlier this month.
The bills would authorize two or more hospital districts to jointly form, participate in or control a broad range of collaborative health care ventures, including public-private and for-profit entities, within their combined boundaries. It would also grant those joint arrangements state action immunity from certain legal challenges.
Opponents have said the policy would effectively greenlight a “backdoor merger” of the North and South Broward Hospital Districts, sidestepping a countywide referendum otherwise required under state law.
Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability has further concerns.
Although much of the discussion has centered on Broward’s North and South Broward Hospital Districts, the legislation applies statewide. Florida has 30 hospital and health care special districts, meaning the framework authorized under HB 1047 could extend beyond a single county. In addition, the group warns that shared liabilities across districts could expose taxpayers to broader financial risk.
The latest push follows a January survey conducted by The Tyson Group that found significant resistance to similar changes. The poll found two-thirds of Broward voters approve of the health care services currently available in the county. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters said hospital districts should not be allowed to change how they operate without triggering legal requirements, including voter approval.
The letters were delivered to the offices of Delegation Chair Robin Bartleman, Vice Chair Rosalind Osgood, and members including Sen. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Christine Hunschofsky. Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability said it will continue advocating for transparency and voter approval requirements as the bill proceeds through the legislative process.
