What Changes Are Needed to Enable the Safety Net to Become a Provider of Choice? And How Does It Get Done?

CHILD health services; COMMUNITY health services; HEALTH care rationing; HEALTH care reform; HEALTH services accessibility; HOSPITALS; HEALTH insurance; LOCAL government; MEDICAID; HEALTH policy; MEDICALLY uninsured persons; PATIENT satisfaction; MEDICAL care of poor people; POVERTY; HEALTH insurance reimbursement; GOVERNMENT programs; PATIENT Protection & Affordable Care Act; HEALTH insurance exchanges

The safety net is the delivery system that provides health care to lowincome and uninsured populations. Following the recent implementation of health care reform, hundreds of thousands of people in Los Angeles County gained or became eligible for health care coverage. The safety net nowhas the potential to remain a regular source of care for these newly covered patients who historically have been dependent on the safety net for their health care. Safety net providers may need to rethink current practices, operate more efficiently, document more consistently, and improve patient experience to keep and attract this newly insured population. Faced with an uncertain future, safety net clinics and hospitals will need to strategically plan for the coming years, with patient choice at the core of their decisions. Given the newly ensured Medicaid beneficiaries, the safety net will need to evolve and adapt to ensure its role in Los Angeles County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]