Local health departments as essential community providers for health benefits exchange plans.

The Affordable Care Act requires health plans' networks to include "essential community providers" (ECPs). Local health departments (LHDs) can be ECPs, typically for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease-related services or family planning. An ECP status may be controversial if it jeopardizes core population health services or competes with community partners. Some LHDs already bill for ECP services, but independent billing functions could exceed projected revenue. Thus, LHDs may wish to investigate contractual arrangements as alternatives to billing multiple issuers.