safety net partnerships

California - Northern

The “Safety Net” is comprised of community clinics, public hospitals and health systems that provide health care to more than six million Californians who are uninsured or underinsured. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region is committed to supporting these safety net organizations in their critical role to provide access to quality health care for vulnerable populations.

For more than a decade, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region has worked closely with these safety net organizations to improve the quality and affordability of care, to help build effective infrastructure, and to collaborate on projects that reduce health disparities and promote a community-based system of disease prevention and management.

In 2002, Kaiser Permanente entered into partnership agreements with regional and statewide clinic associations representing over 150 nonprofit community clinic organizations and with the state association for 21 public hospital and health care systems. These partnerships between Kaiser Permanente and the safety net strive to improve the quality of health care for the insured and uninsured alike and reduce health disparities based on race, ethnicity, and economic status throughout California. 

Kaiser Permanente Northern California safety net partnership contributions extend beyond community benefit grant funding with the provision of volunteer medical staff, donated equipment and supplies, and consultation and technical assistance on a wide range of operational topics such as health information technology and clinical issues such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and chronic pain. Grant funding supports quality improvement and health information technology initiatives, the integration of behavioral health within primary care and increased collaboration between community clinics and public hospitals.

The California Primary Care Association honored Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region in 2003 with its Hero Award for stalwart support of safety net partners.