By Gary Lloyd
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County Manager’s Office announced last week that contracts with four major local health care providers for services to Cooper Green Mercy Health Services beneficiaries have been agreed to in principle and have entered the county’s internal contract review process.
Contracts providing for inpatient care, primary care and specialty services through the Baptist Health System, University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB West and St. Vincent’s Health System have been in negotiation for some time. Cooper Green patients have been receiving care through these facilities through memorandums of understanding first entered into in December 2012. The county has paid for these services based on invoices provided.
Protesters outside Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight’s house in Trussville in August 2012 when they thought inpatient service would end
file photo
“These contracts are vital both to providing quality patient care to our beneficiaries and to moving closer toward the Commission’s vision of establishing a network of community clinics,” said Jefferson County CEO Tony Petelos. “These facilities are strategically located throughout the county and once these agreements are approved by the Commission, we can start working with these partners to build a network around them focusing on primary care, preventative care and growing a healthy Jefferson County.”
Now that they have entered the county’s internal review process, the contracts will be routed for necessary approvals and any final changes will be made before being presented to the Jefferson County Commission for approval.
“I’m very happy with the services that Cooper Green provides to our community,” Petelos said. “Having these contracts in place will further enhance the quality of care we are able to provide to our patients while maximizing the value to the county financially. I’m looking forward to getting these agreements through our review process and presented to the Commission for approval as soon as possible.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
