title: The status of local health care safety nets.
abstract: This paper examines variations in the composition, concentration, financing, and community context of local health care "safety nets" and the market pressures that they face. It also reviews financing mechanisms that support these systems and strategies being undertaken to retain publicly insured patients. As safety-net providers compete more aggressively, the availability of the public health, behavioral health, and social services they provide may be affected. Communities may have to consider more explicit investments in these "public goods" if competitive markets remove existing cross-subsidies.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mechanic
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000191:economics*; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000191:economics; D012946:Social Welfare; D014481:United States