Achieving System Integration in California's Health Care Safety Net
Fragmentation has been the hallmark of health care delivery in the United States and a source of inefficiency and excessive expenditures. Integrated delivery systems can address these problems by improving coordination in care delivery, reducing waste and service duplication, and improving health outcomes. The passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) accelerated efforts toward development of integrated delivery systems in all settings, including the safety net. Despite the perennial limitations in revenues and resources, safety net providers are recognizing the potential for participating in a post-ACA health care delivery environment that would allow them to maintain or expand the number of patients they reach and services they offer while maximizing efficiencies. Two §1115 Medicaid Waiver programs in California, the Health Care Coverage Initiative (HCCI) and the Low Income Health Program (LIHP), have provided the opportunity for California counties to develop provider networks and services consistent with principles of integrated delivery systems.
The report features detailed county-level information and data.
Publication Authors:
- Nadereh Pourat, PhD
- Erin Salce, MPH
- Anna C. Davis
- Diana Hilberman