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Grants
Strengthening the Safety Net: Building healthy communities through increasing access to health care
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's commitment to the health of all Michiganders makes us different from the other insurance companies. As the state's largest nonprofit health insurer, BCBSM is committed to building healthy communities by expanding access to high quality, affordable health care coverage.
More than 1.2 million Michigan residents lack health insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has responded to their need for accessible, high-quality health care by providing grant funding to free clinics designed to strengthen the safety net. Michigan's free clinics offer medical, dental, mental health and specialty care to low-income, uninsured patients. Since 2005, BCBSM has awarded $7 million in grants to Michigan's free clinics.
At the Michigan Blues, we believe that keeping Michigan's safety net accessible and stable is a critical public health concern and an important way to curb rising health care costs. This is just one way we're leading Michigan to a healthier future — one community at a time.
In 2011, Blue Cross awarded Strengthening the Safety Net grants to 53 free clinics
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan awarded grants to 53 free clinics throughout the state to support their day-to-day operations. Strengthening the Safety Net grants paid for volunteer coordination, clinical supplies, practice management and facilities expenses, the nuts and bolts of providing health care for the uninsured.
In addition, five applicants were awarded highly competitive grants of up to $50,000 each for innovative projects that expanded access to safety net health care in measurable and sustainable ways. The grantees listed below identified clear gaps in safety net coverage and proposed innovative approaches to close the gaps.
- St. Frances Cabrini Clinic in Detroit proposed the Diabetes Action Program, an innovative approach to diabetes self management. Read more about the impact of the Cabrini Clinic's grant efforts.
- The Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic in Pontiac proposed expanding services to include a local homeless shelter. Read more about this innovative partnership.
- Traverse Health Clinic planned to expand access to mental health services by reaching out to local homeless shelters. Read more about Traverse Health Clinic's grant efforts.
- Two free clinics in Grand Rapids, Catherine's Health Center and Health Intervention Services, proposed strengthening their existing partnership, including sharing human resources and a joint referral process. Read more about this innovative partnership.
- Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti recently built a new facility and proposed recruiting and training additional volunteers in order to increase the number of patients served. Read more about Hope Clinic's grant efforts.
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St. Frances Cabrini Clinic promotes diabetes education and support in Detroit
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Cabrini Clinic Clinical Nurse Manager Ethel Szabo talks to Nancy D'Hondt of the Michigan Organization of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association about diabetes classes for uninsured patients. |
In 2011, the St. Frances Cabrini Clinic, located in downtown Detroit, received a $50,000 grant from Blue Cross to support a comprehensive program that targets people with diabetes.
With its Strengthening the Safety Net grant, Cabrini Clinic proposed to start a Diabetic Action Program to increase the effectiveness of diabetic care. The goal of this intensive, year-long program is to help patients manage their diabetes and reduce their HbA1c levels to within the normal range.
"While insurance programs proactively reach out to insured populations with programs to stem the progress of diabetes-related disabilities, little is being done to address this disease among the uninsured," said Mary Ellen Howard, Cabrini Clinic's executive director. "Through the Cabrini Clinic Diabetic Action Program, we hope to engage our diabetic patients in getting their disease under control and taking responsibility for their health."
The Clinic has developed 15 measures that will evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetic Action Program, including a 5 percent reduction of HbA1c levels, education for proper use of glucometers, a comprehensive eye exam and active monitoring of weight, cholesterol and blood pressure for these patients.
Blue Cross funds will be used to purchase diabetic supplies and equipment, educational materials and diabetic medications and test strips for the Diabetic Action Program.
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New partnership with Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic will expand health care to the homeless in Pontiac
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Dr. Justin Brox with patient Allen Green |
The Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic provides primary care, women's health care, dental and oral services and pharmaceuticals — all free of charge — to low-income uninsured and underinsured individuals in Oakland County.
This year, with a $40,000 grant from Blue Cross, the clinic will collaborate with HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center in downtown Pontiac to expand health care to the homeless, a service that is in great demand in the area.
"There are 3,300 homeless individuals living in Oakland County. With the growing unemployment rates from a falling economy in Michigan, Oakland County is seeing a growing number of homeless persons. These individuals are, for the most part, not receiving adequate medical care. As a result they are forced to utilize emergency room care," said Pam Haratsis, executive director at the clinic.
This partnership is expected to generate 250 new patients, increasing access to health care by 35 percent and to oral health care by 100 percent. The clinic will recruit additional volunteer health care providers from local hospitals and universities to serve these patients.
Funds from the Strengthening the Safety Net grant program will be used to purchase medical equipment, supplies and medications.
"The support we received from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan helps us with our mission of helping others. The funding they provide enables us to become a vital safety net for the community. This grant allows us to reach out and help this additional population that needs help," added Haratsis.
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Traverse City Free Clinic will expand access to mental health care with BCBSM support
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Traverse Health Clinic's "Spread the Health" campaign button |
Traverse Health Clinic received a 2011 Strengthening the Safety Net grant to provide mental health screenings and counseling to more than 350 patients.
"We have come to realize that integrating mental health with primary care and treatment for physical problems is very important," said Arlene Brennan, executive director.
Traverse Health Clinic plans to provide mental health assessments to current patients and reach out to two local homeless shelters, Goodwill Inn and Safe Harbor, to identify and treat to others who need mental health services. Currently, the clinic offers health care to Goodwill Inn residents. A social worker will be added to accompany the medical provider on shelter visits, and subsequent referrals will be made when necessary.
Blue Cross funding will be used to fund the mental health access program director and assistant to coordinate screenings and referrals, compile data and oversee the program evaluation.
Brennan added, "The Blues have had such a strong social mission to help people in need have access. We are very grateful to have their support as we expand the reach of our mental health services to people with great need."
This innovative approach to mental health care is expected to generate more than 575 patient encounters during the one-year grant.
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Two free clinics join forces with other providers to care for the uninsured in Grand Rapids
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Catherine's Health Center |
Catherine's Health Center and Health Intervention Services have long worked together to serve the uninsured in Grand Rapids. These faith-based organizations both offer screening, education, counseling and treatment for patients and share a commitment to providing medical homes when possible.
This year, they are using the Strengthening the Safety Net grant to expand their existing partnership to include three other local organizations: Oasis of Hope Clinic, Safe Haven and Grand Rapids Area Health Ministries Consortium.
"It's been difficult for nonprofits to collaborate as they traditionally compete for resources," said Karen Kaashoek, executive director of Catherine's Health Center. "However, when you take that first step, you often find ways to collaborate and share information. By collaborating, you improve the delivery of care rather than developing the process from the ground up."
Like many other free clinics, Health Intervention Services and Catherine's Health Center face challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers. They requested grant funds to expand the number and variety of health care volunteers.
They also plan to implement a joint electronic referral system that will meet the needs of all five partner organizations. This will improve access to health education, screening, primary care, oral health care and women's support groups for the patients of all of the partnering organizations.
Sylvia Daining, executive director of Health Intervention Services is pleased. She notes that while collaborative efforts take longer to develop, their success often leads to more collaboration, reducing duplication of effort and allowing each organization to focus more resources on patients.
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Hope Clinic will recruit additional volunteers to care for the underserved in Ypsilanti
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Hope Clinic's new Ypsilanti facility |
Hope Clinic's Ypsilanti site recently completed a capital campaign and built a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art facility. With the physical capacity to care for more patients and increasing need in the community, Hope Clinic proposed to develop systems to recruit, train and support additional volunteers and expand services.
The clinic has proposed to increase their volunteer base by 12 percent. This includes adding health care providers, nurses, pharmacists and administrative staff. With support from BCBSM, Hope Clinic will increase volunteer time by 550 hours per year.
"BCBSM funding for additional referral nurse hours and a clinic support assistant could not be more timely or more critical. As access to specialty care increases through newly developed relationships with the University Michigan Health System, the Hope staff is very busy scheduling more specialty care appointments than ever," stated Katherine Simpson, Hope Medical Clinic coordinator.
With added clinical support staff, Hope Clinic will provide additional continuity between the daytime, evening and weekend clinics, improving efficiency and patient care.
"We are thrilled to be able to bring more clinicians into our larger space, and eager to welcome ever more patients as we expand our volunteer workforce," Simpson said.
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