THE INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENTAL POLICY ON COMMUNITY-HEALTH PARTNERSHIPSAND COMMUNITY CARE NETWORKS - AN ANALYSIS OF 3 CASES

This is a comparative analysis of hospitals' efforts in three communit ies to pursue collaborative ventures to advance community health. The events occurred over a two-year period characterized by increasing mar ket competition and national debate about comprehensive health care fi nancing reform. The study objectives are to better understand factors that contributed to the initiation of the collaborative efforts, and f actors that sustained, hindered, or thwarted these efforts. The study explores how the collaborative ventures in these three communities far ed in the face of multiple and conflicting policies and the simultaneo us creation of larger, competing health systems. A number of concludin g generalizations address the impact of interorganizational dynamics a nd public policy initiatives on community health partnerships.