DETROIT, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and its HMO affiliate Blue Care Network announced they will renew their commitment to a successful grant program that last year helped 30 Michigan nonprofit free clinics make health services available to about 776,000 uninsured state residents. It is estimated that more than 1 million people in Michigan have no health insurance.
Clinics with 501(c)(3) status have until March 31 to submit proposals. Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000. Priority will be based on need, plan objectives and activities.
Last year’s grants helped fund new free clinics in Grayling and Sault Ste. Marie. They also purchased equipment for an Oakland County clinic to diagnose and treat retinal diseases, provided medications to more than 1,300 patients at a Wayne County clinic who couldn’t afford them, enabled a women’s health clinic at another Wayne County clinic to take more patients, and funded medications, radiology testing and lab work at a Macomb County clinic.
Grants also helped fund dental clinics in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw and Branch counties, and purchase patient medical assessment devices and office equipment at a Genesee County clinic. Other grants helped increase patient visits at a Lenawee County clinic by subsidizing costs, enabled a Jackson County clinic to purchase asthma inhalers for patients at reduced cost, purchased equipment to help an Ingham County clinic coordinate medical care and put it on track to be self-sustaining by 2008, and purchased office equipment at others.
“We have an unwavering commitment to ensure access to health care for all Michigan residents, and free clinics play a vital role in reaching those who are uninsured,” stated Kevin Seitz, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan senior vice president and president and CEO of Blue Care Network, in announcing $1 million in new Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan grant money available to nonprofit clinics statewide.
Seitz said uninsured residents who access care in free clinics often would otherwise delay seeing a physician because they can’t afford the care. Many times that delay results in more expensive care in emergency rooms and even hospital stays. Free clinics help break that cycle by providing primary care services, offering access to earlier, more effective and often less costly treatment.
“Michigan’s free clinics really appreciate the support we received from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan last year and we’re thrilled it’s continuing,” stated Sister of Mercy Mary Ellen Howard, executive director of the Cabrini Clinic of Most Holy Trinity Church in Detroit, and Free Clinics of Michigan immediate past state coordinator. “We see ourselves as the safety net below the health care safety net, and unfortunately a lot of people are falling through that safety net these days. They have nowhere to turn but the free clinics. Blue Cross’ support will help us to do more.”
In 2005, the Michigan Blues distributed $1 million in grants to 30 free clinics in the following counties: Bay, Branch, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Emmet, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Macomb, Marquette, Oakland, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford. Since the clinics also serve residents of neighboring counties, they make medical care available to an estimated 776,000 Michigan residents without health insurance.
For this year’s grants, consideration also will be given to clinics that provide dental health services.
“Research has shown that problems with oral health can warn of trouble elsewhere in the body,” Seitz said. “Dental health is directly linked to overall physical health. It can help detect early signs of conditions from diabetes and pregnancy complications to heart disease and cancer.”
Besides medical and dental care, some free clinics also offer mental health counseling. Their operation relies on the goodness of volunteer physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and other health care professionals contributing time, services and medications. Many clinics are continually in jeopardy of closing, and have seen patient numbers rise and in many cases are often forced to turn away new patients.
The grant program is just one way the company is supporting increased access to health care. The company is also a founding member of Michigan’s Access to Health Care Coalition, a group of organizations and businesses representing health care professionals, purchasers and consumers dedicated to improving access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured. The company also helps support the MIChild program, which provides low-cost health insurance for uninsured children.
For information on applying, clinics should contact Tyffany Shadd-Coleman at 248-448-5045, or by e-mail at tshadd@bcbsm.com .
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides or administers health care benefits to just over 4.7 million members through a variety of plans: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue PPOs; Blue Choice Point of Service; Blue Care Network HMO, and Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com .
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Blue Care Network
CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Bill Semion, +1-313-225-7975,both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, mediarelations@bcbsm.com
Web site: http://www.bcbsm.com/
