Redesigning the regulatory framework for ambulatory care services in New York.

Unlabelled: Policy Points: The landscape of ambulatory care services in the United States is rapidly changing on account of payment reform, primary care transformation, and the rise of convenient care options such as retail clinics. New York State has undertaken a redesign of regulatory policy for ambulatory care rooted in the Triple Aim (better health, higher-quality care, lower costs)-with a particular emphasis on continuity of care for patients. Key tenets of the regulatory approach include defining and tracking the taxonomy of ambulatory care services as well as ensuring that convenient care options do not erode continuity of care for patients.

Travel-related savings through a rural, clinic-based automated drug dispensing system.

For rural patients, access to pharmacies is often impeded by geographical and financial factors. The number of available pharmacies may be limited, and the extensive travel needed to access them is time consuming, potentially dangerous and, due to rising fuel prices, increasingly expensive. We describe the benefits of a clinic-based, automated medication dispensing system (ADDS) implemented in two rural communities in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State.