The Affordable Care Act has the potential to help safety-net providers deliver accessible, high-quality care to vulnerable populations, according to The Commonwealth Fund's Pamela Riley, M.D., M.P.H., Julia Berenson, M.Sc., and Cara Dermody. In a new blog post, they say that "safety-net providers should take advantage of provisions that promote coordination and integration of care, capitalize on investments in the capacity of the safety net, and strive to fully understand and adapt to upcoming changes to safety net financing and payment." In a related blog post, Mary Takach, M.P.H., Katharine Witgert, M.P.H., and Catherine Hess, M.S.W., of the National Academy for State Health Policy explore the implications for safety net providers of participating in accountable care organizations. You can also listen to a podcast on what health reform means for safety-net providers.
