[§323F-12]  Public-private partnership.  (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.

     (b)  The public-private partnership shall:

     (1)  Work to resolve the challenges in the post-acute care environment;

     (2)  Expand inpatient capacity;

     (3)  Improve access to and quality of health care; and

     (4)  Enhance the operational and financial viability of public and private health care providers at all levels of care.

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

     (1)  Short-term goals:

          (A)  Provide a mechanism to move waitlisted patients to an appropriate long-term care setting;

          (B)  Provide appropriate financial support to allow for the movement of patients along the continuum of care, regardless of the ability to pay;

          (C)  Maintain the financial viability of skilled nursing facilities by providing adequate funding from all sources; and

          (D)  Maintain the financial viability of full-service acute care facilities by reducing the number of waitlisted patients.

     (2)  Long-term goals:

          (A)  Improve the continuity of care and efficiency between providers;

          (B)  Enhance the quality of patient care;

          (C)  Create a patient-centered health care infrastructure;

          (D)  Maximize capacity and increase operational and financial viability among network organizations;

          (E)  Optimize existing resources to maximize return;

          (F)  Facilitate the transition of care between different levels of care;

          (G)  Reduce unnecessary transfers of patients and attract medically appropriate transfers from neighboring islands;

          (H)  Create reimbursement mechanisms that support integrated efforts;

          (I)  Reduce unnecessary health care use and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and readmissions; and

          (J)  Expand access to specialty services to counties that encompass at least three islands inhabited by permanent residents. [L 2012, c 279, §2]