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Assurance opportunities for local health departments
W M Reid1, D M Page, D V Cookro
1Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
Context:
Widespread changes in health care in the United States, especially the growth in the number and membership of health maintenance organizations (HMOs), provide increasing opportunities for collaboration, especially through contracts, between local health departments (LHDs) and HMOs to achieve public health goals.
Objectives:
(1) To identify, through a review of the literature, the areas in which HMOs and LHDs can collaborate to their mutual benefit and (2) for the leadership of an LHD in Florida to engage HMOs in its county in Florida in collaboration.
Design:
University faculty reviewed the relevant literature; the Director of Medical Services for the Duval County Health Department developed the relationships with Duval County HMOs.
Setting:
The setting for the study was Duval County.
Participants:
The participants in the study included faculty from the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, State and county public health officials, and representatives of 10 HMOs.
Main Outcome Measures:
The main outcome measures were a literature review to identify feasible areas for collaboration and successful collaboration with HMOs in areas of mutual interest.
Results:
The director of medical services for the county health department initiated a variety of collaborative activities with 10 HMOs. These led to agreements, participation on committees and task forces, provision of services, and improved communication.
Conclusions:
Collaboration between LHDs and HMOs to achieve public health assurance goals is feasible. Other organizations can encourage such collaboration through public and private policies.