title: Local health departments as essential community providers for health benefits exchange plans.
abstract: The Affordable Care Act requires health plans' networks to include "essential community providers" (ECPs). Local health departments (LHDs) can be ECPs, typically for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease-related services or family planning. An ECP status may be controversial if it jeopardizes core population health services or competes with community partners. Some LHDs already bill for ECP services, but independent billing functions could exceed projected revenue. Thus, LHDs may wish to investigate contractual arrangements as alternatives to billing multiple issuers.
authors: Julia F. Costich is with the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY.
authors: Julia F
authors: JF
authors: Costich
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D062265:Health Insurance Exchanges / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States