INTEGRATED NETWORKS AND HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER COOPERATIVES - NEW MODELS FOR RURAL HEALTH-CARE-DELIVERY AND FINANCING

Minnesota's 1994 health care reform legislation authorized the establi shment of community integrated service networks (CISNs) and health car e provider cooperatives, which were envisioned as new health care deli very models that could be successfully implemented in rural areas of t he state. Four CISNs are licensed, and three organizations are incorpo rated as health care provider cooperatives. Many of the policy issues Minnesota has faced regarding the development of CISNs and health care provider cooperatives in rural areas are similar to those raised by c urrent Medicare reform proposals.