Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Safety Net Delivery Systems: Case Studies from Chicago and Sarasota

Health care safety net providers are experiencing unprecedented challenges, including growing numbers of uninsured and Medicaid patients, shrinking reimbursement from Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers, pressures to control costs, and demands for accountability. Communities around the country are experimenting with new organizational forms and partnerships to address the needs of uninsured and underserved populations. In some situations, private organizations are infusing resources to support the development of community partnerships. Few studies have examined the role of public-private partnerships in driving health system improvement. This session presents two detailed case studies of distinct, yet similar innovative community programs underway to better coordinate care for and improve the health of underserved populations: one in Sarasota, FL and one in Chicago, IL. These programs are unique in that they each includes a partnership with a private foundation to energize collaboration and strengthen the safety net.

The Medical Home Network (MHN) is a 4-year-old public-private medical provider collaborative working to improve the health status of Medicaid recipients on Chicago's South side. MHN enhances care coordination and quality, improves access, reduces fragmentation and cost, all while reinforcing patients' Medical Homes. MHN is an unprecendented collaboration between the Illinois Medicaid agency, the 2nd largest US public health system, major academic medical centers, safety net hospitals, and a large network of community health centers. MHN serves 170,000 members and is focused on creating a replicable delivery framework to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. MHN was established and sustained through financial support of the Comer Science and Education Foundation.

The Sarasota System of Care (SOC) is a collaborative working through appropriate stewardship, to ensure sustainable, patient-centered, integrated, effective, and quality services. It is a partnership of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota County Health Department, and Senior Friendship Center. Sarasota community has experienced recent economic challenges and has an estimated 27% without health insurance. Funding to engage and develop SOC is provided by the Patterson Foundation.

As independent evaluators of these two innovative public-private initiatives, researchers will (1) describe initial findings regarding the development and lessons learned; present a framework for measuring the impact and outcomes; and describe measures of success using comparative case study methods. The session will contribute to the evidence regarding the role of and impact of public-private programs in improving well-documented shortcomings in the safety net system.