1. (a) There is established within the corporation for administrative purposes only a public-private partnership in a county that encompasses at least three islands inhabited by permanent residents, to research, develop, and implement a model of health care delivery that addresses the coordination of care across the spectrum of care from acute, to skilled nursing facility, to home, in a manner that is seamless, efficient, appropriate, and cost-effective.

2. (b) The public-private partnership shall:

   1. (1) Work to resolve the challenges in the post-acute care environment;
   2. (2) Expand inpatient capacity;
   3. (3) Improve access to and quality of health care; and
   4. (4) Enhance the operational and financial viability of public and private health care providers at all levels of care.

3. (c) The public-private partnership shall be mutually beneficial to stakeholders and consumers and shall be based upon the following:

   1. (1) Short-term goals:

      1. (A) Provide a mechanism to move waitlisted patients to an appropriate long-term care setting;
      2. (B) Provide appropriate financial support to allow for the movement of patients along the continuum of care, regardless of the ability to pay;
      3. (C) Maintain the financial viability of skilled nursing facilities by providing adequate funding from all sources; and
      4. (D) Maintain the financial viability of full-service acute care facilities by reducing the number of waitlisted patients.

   2. (2) Long-term goals:

      1. (A) Improve the continuity of care and efficiency between providers;
      2. (B) Enhance the quality of patient care;
      3. (C) Create a patient-centered health care infrastructure;
      4. (D) Maximize capacity and increase operational and financial viability among network organizations;
      5. (E) Optimize existing resources to maximize return;
      6. (F) Facilitate the transition of care between different levels of care;
      7. (G) Reduce unnecessary transfers of patients and attract medically appropriate transfers from neighboring islands;
      8. (H) Create reimbursement mechanisms that support integrated efforts;
      9. (I) Reduce unnecessary health care use and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and readmissions; and
      10. (J) Expand access to specialty services to counties that encompass at least three islands inhabited by permanent residents.

[L 2012, c 279, §2]