title: A successful collaboration between a private nonprofit health plan and a state health department.
abstract: This article describes the experience of a private, nonprofit health plan in establishing a collaborative relationship with a state health department. Through a federal grant project, efforts toward assuring quality care for children with special health care needs in managed care settings provided unique opportunities to form partnerships between multiple health plans, community groups, and other stakeholders. Collaborative activities included (1) formation of a pediatric asthma task force and a performance measurement and quality assurance committee; (2) planning and execution of a statewide conference; (3) development of a teaching manual for incorporating asthma education into elementary classroom curricula; and (4) publication of a parent resource manual for health plan members. Key ingredients and influencing factors for successful public-private partnerships are discussed.
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rolnick
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: O'Fallon
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Vanderburg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D006278:Medicare / Q000458:organization & administration; D008910:Minnesota; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011635:Public Health Administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014922:Wisconsin