The concept that (1) the health of a population is primarily its own responsibility and (2) health care reform, as well as achievement of improvement of individual health, can only be the result of the mobilization of local resources under community leadership. Innovation and experimentation are fundamental to the concept. The concept originated with a task force of the National Council of Community Hospitals (NCCH) and a parallel task force of the faculty of the Estes Park Institute (EPI). A national body, Indigo Institute, has been established to undertake further research, develop, and encourage the concept and to assist local communities in its adoption.