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Read more about the safety net clinics including:
Click either of the following links to download a PDF with
additional information.
Visit the KC
CareLink Website
Although no commonly accepted definition of the safety net
exists, in mid-1990's the Institute of Medicine (IOM) appointed
a committee with the purpose to: "examine the impact of Medicaid
managed care and other changes in health care coverage on
the future integrity and viability of safety net providers
operating primarily in ambulatory and primary care settings."
This IOM committee defined the "health care safety net" as
follows (Source: Institute of Medicine. 2000. America's Health
Care Safety Net: Intact but Endangered. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, p.3-4):
"Those providers that organize and deliver a significant
level of health care and other related services to uninsured,
Medicaid, and other vulnerable patients."
According to the Committee's report,
"In most communities there is a subset of the safety net
that the committee described as 'core safety net providers:'
These providers have two distinguishing characteristics:
(1) either by legal mandate or explicitly adopted mission
they maintain an 'open door,' offering access to services
for patients regardless of their ability to pay; (2) a substantial
share of their case mix is uninsured, Medicaid, and other
vulnerable patients."
Furthermore, according to the Committee's report,
"Core safety net providers typically include public hospital
systems; federal, state and locally supported community health
centers (CHCs) or clinics (of which federally qualified health
centers [FQHCs] are an important subset); and local health
departments. In most communities several smaller special service
providers (e.g., family planning clinics, school-based health
programs, and Ryan White AIDS programs also are considered
a part of the core safety net. In some communities teaching
and community hospitals, private physicians, and ambulatory
care sites with demonstrated commitment to serving the poor
and uninsured fulfill the role of core safety net providers."
In Wyandotte County, on November 6, 2001 a coalition of
safety net providers established the following qualifications
for membership:
- Must have a 501 C designation or be publicly funded;
- Must provide health care regardless of ability to pay;
- Must have a sliding fee scale or reduced scale for payment;
- Must provide primary health care; The Mission Statement
must emphasize "access to care" for medically underserved;
- Must be located in Wyandotte County and primarily serve
Wyandotte County residents.
These providers currently consist of: Duchesne Clinic, Silver
City Health Center, Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care,
Swope Health Wyandotte (Douglas Clinic), Swope Health Quindaro
(Brown Clinic), and Turner House Clinic, plus the Unified
Government Health Department
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