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What is the Safety Net?
Health care safety net clinics are community-based providers who offer health services to low-income people, including those without insurance. Many safety net patients are OHP enrollees, the uninsured, and other vulnerable Oregonians who pay a sliding discounted fee for primary care services. Primary care services provided by the safety net include, but are not limited to:
- Urgent care
- Acute and chronic disease treatment
- Services based on local community need (mental health, dental, and vision)
- Preventive care
- Well Child care
- Enabling services (translation/interpretation, case management, transportation and outreach)
Coalition Clinics are safety net clinics
State of Oregon – Health Care Safety Net Clinics definition learn more.
Enhancing Oregon’s Health Care Safety Net
Through Data Driven Policy – DEFINITION
Refined definition according to Safety Net Advisory Council, SNAC, on 06.21.05
By: The Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research
Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services, Health Systems Planning
Health Care Safety Net
The health care safety net is a community’s response to meeting the needs of people who experience barriers that prevent them from having access to appropriate, timely, affordable and continuous health services.
Health Care Safety Net Patients
Health care safety net patients often experience barriers to accessing services from other health care providers due to cultural, linguistic, geographic and financial issues. Safety net patients tend to be uninsured, underserved, Medicaid/Medicare enrollees, and other vulnerable/special populations.
Health Care Safety Net Providers
Health care safety net providers in Oregon deliver services to persons experiencing barriers to accessing the services they need. These providers include a broad range of local non-profit organizations, government agencies, hospitals, and individual providers.
Core Health Care Safety Net Providers
Core safety net providers are a subset of the larger safety net and especially adept at serving people regardless of their ability to pay. They have a mission or mandate to deliver services to persons who experience barriers to accessing the services they need. Core health care safety net providers serve a substantial share of Medicaid and Medicare enrollees, people who have no health insurance, as well as other vulnerable/special populations.