Jacksonville health brief: Florida Blue network update, hospital expansion projects, water shortage order, and measles counts
Jacksonville, FL – March 2, 2026 – Florida Blue-Cleveland Clinic contract update, ER growth, expanded water shortage order, and measles surveillance.
Several updates from late February could affect how Jacksonville residents plan care and manage day-to-day public health needs this week.
Health insurance: Florida Blue and Cleveland Clinic Florida reach agreement
After days of uncertainty around a contract deadline, Cleveland Clinic said Feb. 27 that it secured a new agreement with Florida Blue that keeps Cleveland Clinic providers in-network for Florida Blue members. Cleveland Clinic said the agreement covers employer-sponsored plans, Health Insurance Marketplace coverage, and Medicare Advantage plans.
Earlier reporting from Health News Florida noted the two sides were working toward a deadline that could have pushed Cleveland Clinic Florida out of network for some plan types, though Florida Blue said coverage was guaranteed through May while talks continued.
Hospitals: emergency care and campus expansions highlighted in regional development roundup
A Northeast Florida health care development roundup reported more than $1 billion in investments across Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties, with several projects tied to emergency access and patient flow. Among the recent openings cited: HCA Florida Memorial Hospital’s freestanding emergency room on Merrill Road in Arlington, and HCA Florida’s St. Augustine Emergency in St. Johns County.
The roundup also described Baptist Health’s McGehee Family Tower project at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, which is planned to expand emergency services for adults and children on the Southbank campus over time. It also highlighted projects from Ascension St. Vincent’s, including a freestanding emergency room planned at Beach and Kernan boulevards and an expansion at St. Vincent’s Clay County to add a Level II neonatal intensive care unit.
Public health: water shortage declaration expands in Northeast Florida
The St. Johns River Water Management District expanded its Phase I Moderate Water Shortage order to include Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, and Putnam counties, citing limited rainfall and declining water levels. The District said the shortage had already been declared for parts of Baker, Bradford, and Duval counties within the District.
Under Phase I, the District encourages voluntary conservation and prohibits wasteful or unnecessary water use. In Putnam County, local officials in Palatka urged residents to limit lawn irrigation and reduce avoidable outdoor water use as dry conditions persist.
Outbreak watch: measles counts continue to move in Florida
Statewide measles activity remained a focus in late-February reporting. A CBS News Miami report, citing Florida Department of Health surveillance summaries, said Florida’s 2026 measles diagnoses rose from 92 (Feb. 14) to 114 (Feb. 21). The report listed Duval and St. Johns among counties with reported cases this year and noted most cases were concentrated in Collier County.
Sources
https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2026/02/27/cleveland-clinic-and-florida-blue-secure-new-agreement
https://www.wusf.org/health-news-florida/2026-02-26/florida-blue-cleveland-clinic-florida-face-sunday-deadline-to-reach-new-contract
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/27/part-i-northeast-florida-health-care-development-update/
https://www.sjrwmd.com/2026/02/district-extends-phase-i-moderate-water-shortage-to-additional-north-florida-counties/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/02/25/st-johns-river-water-management-declare-phase-i-shortage-for-putnam-county/
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/miami/news/florida-measles-cases-jump-third-most-in-country/
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
