The report highlights the importance of integrating local healthcare safety nets into seamless systems of care as a foundation for health care reform. The assessment of integration activities in five study counties suggests that much progress has been made in this direction, with a focus on systems-wide integration, cross-provider integration, and patient-level integration. The counties are also considering Accountable Care Organizations, consumer ePortals, and Health Information Exchanges. Despite diverse integration initiatives, the IT infrastructure is evolving piecemeal. The report concludes that these initiatives are resulting in coordinated care and strengthened partnerships between providers and county agencies, facilitating the implementation of health care reform.
