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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                              SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of this 24th day
of October, 2000, between CompuBill Systems Corporation, Inc., a Florida
corporation ("CompuBill") and Metropolitan Health Networks Inc., a Florida
corporation ("MetCare") (individually, a "Party" and collectively, the
"Parties").

                                    RECITALS:

         A.       CompuBill and MetCare entered into a Letter of Intent creating
                  a Joint Venture between the Parties dated as of January 7,
                  2000 (the "Joint Venture Agreement") and an Agreement for
                  Billing Services dated June 23, 2000 (the "Billing
                  Agreement").

         B.       Certain disputes later arose with respect to the Billing
                  Agreement which resulted in the institution of an action by
                  CompuBill in the Circuit Court of the State of Florida, Miami
                  Dade County, entitled COMPUBILL SYSTEMS CORPORATION V.
                  METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS INC., Case No. 00- 18918 (the
                  "Action").

         C.       The Parties wish to resolve their dispute, dismiss the Action,
                  and terminate all pre-existing agreements;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the Parties agree to resolve their dispute as follows:

         1.       Promptly after execution of this Agreement, MetCare shall
                  deliver to Broad and Cassel, as Escrow Agent (the "Escrow
                  Agent"), certificates evidencing an aggregate of 58,333 shares
                  of MetCare's restricted common stock registered in CompuBill's
                  name (the "Shares"), as provided for under Rule 144 of the
                  Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Escrow
                  Agent shall hold the Shares and shall release the same from
                  escrow in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

         2.       CompuBill acknowledges that the Shares are being issued to
                  them pursuant to an exemption form the registration
                  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                  "1933 Act") and until registered under the 1933 Act as
                  hereinafter set forth, their transferability is limited.
                  CompuBill represents and warrants to MetCare that pending such
                  registration the Shares are being acquired for investment
                  purposes and not with a view towards the public distribution
                  thereof.

         3.       (a) Within 180 days of the date of this Agreement (the
                  "Effectiveness Deadline") or at the time MetCare, subsequent
                  to the date of execution of this Agreement, applies for
                  registration for any other stockholder, MetCare agrees to
                  prepare, file and use


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                  its best efforts to be caused to be declared effective under
                  the 1933 Act, a registration statement on Form SB-2 or any
                  other available form covering the resale of the Shares by
                  CompuBill. MetCare agrees to keep the Registration Statement
                  current through the satisfaction of MetCare's financial
                  obligations to CompuBill provided for hereunder. MetCare shall
                  bear all costs, fees and expenses involved in the preparation
                  and filing of the Registration Statement.

                  (b) MetCare agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CompuBill,
and each of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors and employees and
any broker-dealer employed by CompuBill in connection with the sale of the
Shares from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, actions, damages,
costs, expenses, or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them
may become subject under the 1933 Act or any other statute or at common law or
otherwise and to reimburse such persons for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by each of them in connection with investigating or
defending any actions, whether or not resulting in any liability, arising out of
or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus (as from time to time
amended or supplemented), or arising out of or based upon the intentional and/or
material omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
foregoing indemnity shall not apply where the alleged act or omission arises
from information furnished by CompuBill to MetCare in writing expressly for use
in connection with the Registration Statement.

         4.       (a) After the Registration Statement has been declared
                  effective by the SEC (the "Effective Time"), CompuBill agrees
                  to use its best efforts to sell the Shares from time to time
                  in open market transactions at market prices in accordance
                  with applicable Federal and state securities laws.

                  (b) At the Effective Time, MetCare shall provide the Escrow
Agent with a notice, which shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release the Shares
to CompuBill's broker for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement. For a
period of 120 days after the Effective Time CompuBill agrees not to sell more
than 5,000 Shares per week. For purposes of this calculation, CompuBill shall be
deemed to have sold such additional shares as to total 5,000 Shares per week
irrespective of whether such sale has been made. The Proceeds from such imputed
sale shall equal the average of the high and low bid price for the Shares for
the trading days in the week in which such sale is deemed to have occurred.

         5.       (a) In the event that the Registration Statement is not
                  declared effective by the SEC by the Effectiveness Deadline,
                  MetCare shall immediately pay to CompuBill the greater of (i)
                  $175,000 or (ii) the market value of the Shares as measured by
                  the average of the high and low bid price for the Shares
                  during the ten trading days prior to the Effectiveness
                  Deadline ("Market Value") up to a maximum of $5.50 per Share.


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                  Such sum shall be paid to CompuBill by cashier's check or wire
                  transfer, whereupon the Shares shall be released from escrow
                  by the Escrow Agent and returned to MetCare.

                  (b) In the event that the gross proceeds received by CompuBill
from sale of the Shares ("Proceeds") do not aggregate $175,000, then MetCare
shall immediately pay to CompuBill a sum equal to $175,000 less the amount of
Proceeds received by CompuBill.

                  (c)      In the event that the Proceeds received by CompuBill
                           equal or exceeds $175,000 but are less than $320,831,
                           then MetCare shall have deemed to have satisfied its
                           financial obligations to CompuBill under this
                           Agreement.

                  (d)      In the event that the Proceeds received by CompuBill
                           from the sale of the Shares exceeds $320,831, then
                           the amount of such excess, shall be remitted within
                           three business days to MetCare, who shall be
                           responsible for the payment of any federal tax that
                           may be due.

         6.       In the event that MetCare fails to perform its obligations
                  required by this Agreement, in a timely manner, then CompuBill
                  may apply to the Court, without notice, for a judgment in the
                  amount of $175,000 or Market Value (as defined in paragraph 5)
                  up to a maximum of $5.50 per Share, less any monies paid, plus
                  attorney's fees, costs and interest from the date of this
                  Agreement through the issuance of the judgment.

         7.       Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the
                  Parties are entering into an Agreement for Billing Services
                  (the "Services Agreement"), the terms of which are
                  incorporated herein by reference. Under the Services
                  Agreement, CompuBill has agreed to deliver to MetCare, on a
                  weekly basis, certain "back-up tapes". Should CompuBill fail
                  to do so, then CompuBill shall forfeit 25% of 58,333 Shares
                  and the Escrow Agent shall release those Shares to MetCare.
                  This provision shall terminate at the Effective Time.

         8.       Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement,

                  (a) the Joint Venture Agreement and the Billing Agreement are
hereby terminated and are of no further force and effect; and

                  (b) the Parties will agree to execute and exchange the general
releases in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which shall be held by the
Escrow Agent pending full compliance by the Parties.

         9.       MetCare shall pay to CompuBill, within eighteen (18) days of
                  the execution of this Agreement, the sum of $3,000.00
                  representing a partial payment for attorney's fees incurred by
                  CompuBill. Other than this amount, each Party shall bear
                  responsibility for the payment of their fees and costs.


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         10.      Upon execution of this Agreement, the Parties agree to execute
                  and file a Stipulation of Dismissal of the Action, which
                  stipulation shall provide that the court shall retain
                  jurisdiction to enforce this Settlement Agreement.

         11.      Each of the Parties has received independent legal advice as
                  to the nature and obligations of this Agreement, including the
                  documents referred to herein or annexed hereto, and each has
                  been fully informed of its respective legal rights,
                  obligations and liabilities as set forth therein. Each Party
                  has entered into this Agreement freely and voluntarily and of
                  its own free will and accord without any threat or force or
                  duress in any form or nature whatsoever.

         12.      Any and all notices or any other communications provided for
                  herein shall be given in writing and shall be effective upon
                  delivery as evidenced by a receipt executed by or for the
                  Party to whom such notice or communication provided for herein
                  is addressed, which delivery shall occur upon facsimile
                  transmission, as evidenced by such facsimile transmission
                  verification report, or upon delivery by certified or
                  registered mail as evidenced by return receipt executed by or
                  for the Party to whom such mail is addressed, or courier
                  service, including, without limitation, United Parcel Service,
                  Federal Express, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service
                  Express Mail, as evidenced by receipt executed by or for the
                  Party to whom such courier package is addressed. Notices shall
                  be given to the following:

As to CompuBill Systems
   Corporation, Inc.                  CompuBill Systems Corporation, Inc.
                                      12000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 703
                                      Miami, Florida 33181
                                      Attention: Mr. Daniel Baldor
                                      Telephone: (305) 899-8096
                                      Facsimile: (305) 899-9834

As to Metropolitan Health
   Networks, Inc.                     500 Australian Avenue South, Suite 1000
                                      West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
                                      Attention: Mr. Fred Sternberg
                                      Telephone: (561) 805-8500
                                      Facsimile: (561) 805-8501

         The Parties shall provide notice, in writing, of any changes to the
aforesaid noticed addresses.

         13.      This Agreement, including the documents referred to herein or
                  attached hereto set forth the entire understandings of the
                  Parties, and supercedes all previous oral and written
                  agreements. This Agreement may not be amended, altered or
                  modified except by written instrument signed by all the
                  Parties.


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         14.      The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision
                  of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions
                  hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects
                  as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

         15.      In the event that any Party shall be required to enforce this
                  Agreement, or any exhibit hereto, whether or not through
                  litigation, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover
                  its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and expenses in
                  connection with such enforcement or interpretation, including
                  fees, costs and expenses incurred upon any appeal or in any
                  bankruptcy proceeding.

         16.      This Agreement may not be assigned, directly, indirectly or by
                  operation of law, without the prior written consent of all of
                  the parties hereto, provided, however, that MetCare may assign
                  this Agreement without consent in connection with any merger,
                  acquisition or consolidation as long as it is assumed by the
                  acquiring entity.

         17.      This Agreement has been entered into in the State of Florida,
                  and it is the intention of the Parties that all questions as
                  to performance, interpretation, validity, legal effect and
                  enforceability of this Agreement and the exhibits hereto shall
                  be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of
                  Florida. The Parties hereby further agree that the exclusive
                  venue for any action under this Agreement and the exhibits
                  hereto shall be in the courts of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
                  Such personal jurisdiction is hereby conferred without regard
                  to the actual locus or residence of the parties at the present
                  time, or regardless of any change of residence of any of the
                  parties that may occur hereafter.

         18.      This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
                  of, and shall be enforceable by, the respective legal
                  representatives, successors and assigns of the Parties.

         19.      The waiver of any Party of a breach of any provision of this
                  Agreement by the other Party shall not operate or be construed
                  as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

         20.      This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
                  shall be deemed an original, but together shall constitute but
                  one and the same Agreement.

         21.      Each Party acknowledges that nothing contained in this
                  Agreement shall be construed as an admission of liability by
                  or on behalf of any party.

         22.      The Escrow Agent shall not be liable to any of the Parties as
                  a result of its acting or failing to act hereunder, unless
                  such act or failure to act arises from the Escrow Agent's
                  gross negligence or willfulness conduct. In the event the
                  Escrow Agent shall be advised of any dispute between the
                  Parties with respect to the disposition of the Shares, the
                  Escrow Agent shall not be required to make any disposition
                  thereof in the absence of written instruction signed by the
                  Parties or pursuant to a final non-appealable order directing
                  disposition of the Shares by a court having jurisdiction of
                  the Parties. The Escrow


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                  Agent may be relieved of its obligations hereunder at any time
                  upon the appointment of a successor escrow agent satisfactory
                  to all Parties or by depositing the Shares with a court of
                  competent jurisdiction willing to accept same.

         23.      The terms and conditions of this Settlement Agreement shall
                  remain confidential to the Parties hereto, except as required
                  by applicable law or as mutually agreed by the Parties in
                  writing, and except that any Party may disclose such
                  information to its respective accountants and attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                    COMPUBILL SYSTEMS CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ DANIEL BALDOR
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                          Name: Daniel Baldor
                                          Title: President

                                    METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS INC.

                                    By: /s/ FRED STERNBERG
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                          Name: Fred Sternberg
                                          Title: President

                                    ESCROW AGENT:

                                    BROAD AND CASSEL

                                    By:
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:



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                                    EXHIBIT A


                                 GENERAL RELEASE

         The undersigned, a duly authorized officer of Metropolitan Health
Networks Inc., a Florida corporation ("MetCare"), hereby executes this General
Release on behalf of MetCare as follows:

         MetCare and each of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors,
employees and all other entities that MetCare controls or as to which MetCare
has the power to grant a release, hereby release and discharge CompuBill Systems
Corporation ("Compuffill") and its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parents,
officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and predecessors from any and
all manner of claims, actions, demands, damages, accounts, sums of money, debts,
liabilities, promises, obligations, costs and expenses (including but not
limited to attorneys' fees or awards of attorneys' fees and/or costs), causes of
action or suits, at law or in equity, of whatsoever kind or nature, whether now
known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that MetCare has or may have had or
may have or hereafter shall or may have, by reason of any matter, cause or
thing, from the beginning of the world to the date hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this General Release shall be deemed to release or
discharge any of CompuBill's obligations under that certain Settlement Agreement
dated September __, 2000 or any claims of MetCare that may arise thereunder.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24th day
of October 2000.

Signed, sealed and delivered in          Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.,
the presence of:                         a Florida corporation

                                         By: /s/ FRED STERNBERG
--------------------------                  -----------------------------------
WITNESS                                        Name: Fred Sternberg
                                               Title: President
--------------------------
WITNESS



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STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF DADE

         I HEREBY CERTIFY that on this day, before me, an officer duly
authorized in the State aforesaid and in the County aforesaid to take
acknowledgements, personally appeared Fred Sternberg to be known to be the
person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and he/she
acknowledged before me that he/she executed the same.

         WITNESS my hand and official seal in the County of Dade and State of
Florida this 24th day of October, 2000.

         SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this 24th day of October, 2000 by
Fred Sternberg as President of Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.



                               -----------------------------------------
                               Notary Public, State of Florida

                               Personally Known   FRED STERNBERG
                                                ------------------------

                               Produced Identification  DRIVERS LICENSE
                                                       -----------------

                               Type:
                                    ------------------------------------




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                                 GENERAL RELEASE

         The undersigned, a duly authorized officer of CompuBill Systems
Corporation, Inc., a Florida corporation ("CompuBill"), hereby executes this
General Release on behalf of CompuBill as follows:

         CompuBill and each of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers,
directors, employees and all other entities that CompuBill controls or as to
which CompuBill has the power to grant a release, hereby release and discharge
Metropolitan Health Networks Inc. ("MetCare") and its respective affiliates,
subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and
predecessors from any and all manner of claims, actions, demands, damages,
accounts, sums of money, debts, liabilities, promises, obligations, costs and
expenses (including but not limited to attorneys' fees or awards of attorneys'
fees and/or costs), causes of action or suits, at law or in equity, of
whatsoever kind or nature, whether now known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, that CompuBill has or may have had or may have or hereafter shall
or may have, by reason of any matter, cause or thing, from the beginning of the
world to the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this General
Release shall be deemed to release or discharge any of MetCare's obligations
under that certain Settlement Agreement dated October 24, 2000 or any claims of
CompuBill that may arise thereunder.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th day
of October, 2000.

Signed, sealed and delivered in         CompuBill Systems Corporation, Inc.,
the presence of:                        a Florida corporation

                                        By: /s/ DANIEL BALDOR
--------------------------                 ------------------------------------
WITNESS                                       Name: Daniel Baldor
                                              Title: President

--------------------------
WITNESS



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STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF DADE

         I HEREBY CERTIFY that on this day, before me, an officer duly
authorized in the State aforesaid and in the County aforesaid to take
acknowledgments, personally appeared Daniel Baldor to be known to be the person
described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and he/she acknowledged
before me that he/she executed the same.

         WITNESS my hand and official seal in the County of Dade and State of
Florida this 27th day of October, 2000.

         SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this 27th day of October, 2000 by
Daniel Baldor as President of CompuBill Systems Corporation, Inc.



                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public, State of Florida

                                        Personally Known           X
                                                         ----------------------

                                        Produced Identification
                                                                ---------------

                                        Type:
                                             ----------------------------------