What is meant by the term “safety net” provider?
According to the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care, the safety net is the national network of providers of primary health care to underserved and vulnerable populations. The term “safety net” is used because for many low-income and vulnerable populations, safety net providers are the provider of last resort (an invisible net of protection) when their income, lack of health coverage or other social and economic vulnerabilities limit their ability to access mainstream medical care. In California, the “safety net” is composed of nonprofit community health centers, (such as CVHN members), county health departments, public hospitals and any other providers who share the common mission of providing services to everyone who comes through their door, regardless of ability to pay. The overwhelming majority of the patients of CVHN CHCs are low-income, and are uninsured or are recipients of government sponsored health coverage programs such as Medicaid.
