I have always believed that the true measure of a community is how it cares for those who need it most. But as Broward County grows, too many residents are struggling with limited access to timely, comprehensive health care close to home.
Across our county, families face persistent gaps in emergency care, maternity services, behavioral health, pediatrics and specialty medicine. These gaps don’t just inconvenience people, they create real harm. In neighborhoods like Lauderdale Lakes, a pregnant mother must travel more than 30 minutes to reach maternity care. Seniors delay treatment because specialty services aren’t nearby. In a county of nearly 2 million residents, this is simply unacceptable.
Nan Rich is a Broward County Commissioner. (Courtesy Nan Rich)
The good news is that Broward County is fighting back through an initiative appropriately called “Better Together,” a bold collaboration between our two public safety-net hospitals, Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System. These institutions have long served as critical providers of care for residents regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and they are taking steps to expand and strengthen that role.
Through a mix of new medical facilities, facility upgrades, service expansions and strategic partnerships, both systems are working to increase capacity and bring care closer to the communities that need it most. As part of this broader effort, Broward Health’s new partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is expected to expand access to pediatric specialty care locally, helping reduce the number of families who must leave the county to receive care.
Progress of this scale cannot be sustained without collaboration. Unlike private hospitals that can withdraw when services are unprofitable, public safety-net hospitals cannot walk away. Better Together allows Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare to align planning, share physicians and data, coordinate investments, deploy mobile units into health care deserts with screenings and food assistance, and address disparities earlier and more effectively for the residents who need care most.
Some critics argue that this kind of collaboration is “anti-competitive.” That claim misunderstands both the intent and the reality. Better Together strengthens the overall system by expanding access, attracting top medical talent, and ensuring that essential services remain available where private providers may choose not to operate. Importantly, this collaboration remains fully transparent under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, with public meetings, open records and community oversight.
I believe it is critical for Tallahassee to act this session by passing SB 1122 and HB 1047. These bills would grant public hospitals the legal clarity needed to collaborate without fear of penalty. Without this protection, innovation slows, partnerships stall and lifesaving programs, from pediatric care to mobile health and nutrition units, are delayed or derailed. Collaboration is not optional; it is the path to delivering high-quality, comprehensive health care at scale.
It is also important to be clear about what this legislation does not do. SB 1122 and HB 1047 do not authorize a merger or consolidation of the hospital systems. Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System would remain entirely separate, independently governed public entities. The legislation simply allows them to collaborate, share resources, coordinate services and plan strategically, so they can better meet the health care needs of our community.
When I served in the Florida Senate, I saw firsthand how these two public hospital systems cared for countless constituents who relied on them as their only option for care. Today, those same hospitals need our support to continue this essential collaboration and reach every neighborhood across Broward County.
By passing these bills, our legislators can demonstrate leadership and ensure our public hospitals are able to work together to meet the evolving health care needs of our growing and diverse community. Our families deserve timely, high-quality care, and they cannot afford delay. We are Better Together!
Nan Rich is a Broward County Commissioner.