Local Health Departments in a Managed Care Environment

Roundtable Discussion

Establishing Local and State Health Department and MCO Collaboration and Leadership

In this session participants discussed ways in which local health departments (LHDs), State health departments, managed care organizations (MCOs), and other important groups can work together in innovative and constructive ways to improve the health of the communities they serve.

Among the points raised in this roundtable discussion were the following:

• Decisions about community needs and the appropriate role of LHDs in addressing these needs should be based on a sound community assessment process. However, how this process is carried out may need to differ somewhat from community to community.
• While decisions need to be community-specific, guidance/assistance from the State and Federal levels to assist communities and LHDs in making informed decisions would be useful.
• How LHDs should carry out their assurance responsibilities with respect to the uninsured remains a very challenging issue for many LHDs.
• Local and State health officials need to communicate clearly and often with managed care and other key parties about the key role that public health must play in today's and tomorrow's health environment. Providing leadership and vision on this issue should be seen as one of the most important responsibilities of public health officials.

Current as of May 1997

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Internet Citation:

Local Health Departments in a Managed Care Environment: Challenges and Opportunities. Workshop Summary, May 6-8, 1997. User Liaison Program, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/ulplocmc.htm