One of the reasons it gave was that the network had failed to remove Mr. Espada and his other son, Pedro G. Espada, from their management positions after both were indicted on embezzlement charges. 

Alejandro Espada argues that his father no longer has any role in Soundview operations. 

The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General excluded Mr. Espada and his son, Pedro G. Espada, from the state Medicaid system in January 2011, but did not exclude Soundview itself. As long as those two Espadas are not involved in the center, Medicaid funds will continue to be available, according to the state.

Ms. Fasciani said any provider switch would need the approval from the DOH and that it would be in the best interest of the patients if the staff remained at the center. 

Urban Health Plan has been operating in the Bronx for 38 years and, according to its website, served 48,000 users through 248,000 patient visits in 2011. UHP is a network of federally funded health care that includes four clinics, five school-based health programs, two homeless shelters and one part-time dental clinic.

Soundview is currently in court contesting UHP’s application for a federal grant to serve the Soundview community on the basis that the grant’s catchment area does not apply to the area UHP serves. But now that UHP is in talks with Soundview to take over the center, Soundview dropped the opposition, according to Ms. Fasciani.

The DOH did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Urban Health Plan would not comment on this story.

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