Overview

The "safety net" is an important component of Colorado's health care system. It consists primarily of community hospitals and public and private health care clinics whose mission is to provide care to low-income uninsured, Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Coloradans - roughly 25 percent of the state's population. Supported primarily by public funds, the safety net plays a key role in meeting the health care needs of vulnerable Coloradans.

Project Description
Supported in part by a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation (formerly HealthONE Alliance), CHI's two-year Safety Net Indicator and Monitoring Project collects, analyzes and disseminates a broad range of information to help decisionmakers understand the composition and dynamics of the population served by safety net providers. In addition, the project is compiling a comprehensive set of data describing services provided and clients served by safety net providers and the diverse funding streams that support these services.

To provide a sound framework for the many activities associated with this effort, CHI staff developed a document, Safety Net Indicator and Monitoring System: Framing Definitions and Setting Priorities (119 KB pdf). This document identifies the definitions, framework and policy questions that will guide the initial stages of setting up a sound and meaningful monitoring system. It also describes an iterative process by which CHI will revisit the definitions and priorities on an ongoing basis.

Another component of CHI's work on the safety net was a recent examination of one group of safety net clinics that share information and support one another under the umbrella of ClinicNet. CHI was asked to evaluate ClinicNet's members' ability to meet Amendment 35 Primary Care Fund requirements and suggest ways member clinics can increase their visibility with state policymakers. Another report looks at Colorado's rural health clinics.

2007 Colorado Safety Net Symposium
This event brought together safety net providers, community leaders and policymakers at all levels to focus on strengthening health care access for vulnerable Coloradans. See the agenda to download the presentations.

Download our Issue Brief (466 KB pdf) about the need for a statewide database on hospital emergency department visits.

Download a printable map (1.09 MB pdf) of Colorado safety net clinics that will receive Amendment 35 funds (via the Primary Care Fund) to increase access to health care.

Download "Monitoring the health of Colorado’s safety net" (4.11 MB ppt) - a presentation by Amy Downs, MPP, to the Caring for Colorado’s Medically Underserved Conference on September 29, 2006.

Download "Assuring optimal health for vulnerable populations: The role of the Safety Net" (956 KB ppt) - a presentation by John Billings, Associate Professor, Director, NYU Center for Health and Public Service Research.

As part of its safety net monitoring activities, CHI plans to post relevant publications and data to the Web site. If you would like to receive notifications about future updates, please contact us at info@ColoradoHealthInstitute.org.

CHI Contact
Jeff Bontrager, MSPH
Senior Research Analyst
303.831.4200, x 205