RELEASE
Michigan Clinics Receive $860,000 in Statewide Funding to Help Uninsured Patients Receive Health Care
Blues Perspectives
| 2 min read
DETROIT, December 16, 2019 – Forty-seven Michigan clinics are receiving a total of $860,500 in funding through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Strengthening the Safety Net program. Now in its 15th consecutive year, the program provides free or low-cost medical, dental and mental health care services to uninsured and underinsured Michigan residents, including treatment for substance use disorder. Last year, more than 50,000 patients statewide were provided care. This year, grant recipients expect to provide care to more than 60,000 vulnerable residents. “Since 2005, we’ve worked with safety net clinics across the state to help more than a quarter of a million Michiganders gain access to health care,” said Lynda Rossi, executive vice president at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “We’re forging these strategic partnerships to address the needs for primary care, dental care, substance use disorder and mental health services.” Clinics that provide free or low-cost medical, dental, mental health, vision and specialty care services were invited to apply for a Strengthening the Safety Net grant in May to support operations or expand services. In addition to the $860,500 in grants from Blue Cross, health care organizations offering primary care services received more than $190,000 in matched funding. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is the largest, private donor to Michigan’s free clinics. Since 2005, Blue Cross has provided more than $15 million in grants so safety net clinics can care for the uninsured and underinsured. An overview of the organizations receiving Strengthening the Safety Net grants this year is below: The following health care homes, or clinics, offer services for at least 30 hours per week, were awarded up to $25,000 each:
The following clinics provide urgent and episodic care and treat more than 100 uninsured or underinsured patients each year. Theywere awarded up to $15,000 each:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.
