The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66085

Judith Sell-Gutowski, RN, MS, Public Health Programs Administration, Health Net of California, Inc., 11971 Foundation Place, D-1, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, 916-935-1437, effie.ruggles@healthnet.com, Rogelio Lopez, Public Health Programs Administration, Health Net of California, 11971 Foundation Place, D-1, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, Susan J. Walker, MPH, CHES, Health Agency Resource and Liaison Division, LA County STD Program, 2615 South Grand Avenue, Room 500, Los Angeles, CA 90007, and Renee' Witcher-Johnson, MPH, Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Fresno County HSS Community Health, P.O. Box 11867, Fresno, CA 93775.

Approximately 70% of STD morbidity is reported from the private health care sector in California. This is important as many other states experience similar trends and privatize health care services. Collaboration activities for the prevention and control of STDs present both opportunities and challenges for managed care organizations (MCOs) and public sector STD prevention and control programs.

Health Net, a MCO under contract to the State of California, has been involved in specific collaborative tasks with the Los Angeles County, Fresno County and California Department of Health Services STD Prevention and Control Programs. Activities have included development of state and local strategic action plans, participation in development and distribution of clinical practice guidelines, and provider education workshops and informational feedback loops.

This session will describe the organizational landscape of MCOs and STD prevention and control programs by portraying varying perspectives and identifying areas of common ground. Instruments to facilitate collaboration and note barriers will be spotlighted. Participants will have an opportunity to propose additional strategies or share lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, participants will be able to
• identify similarities and differences between managed care organizations and public health STD programs,
• articulate similarities and differences in the roles public and private organizations can play in STD prevention and control,
• recognize tools and strategies to facilitate collaboration between public health and managed care.

Keywords: Collaboration, STD Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.