CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region's largest insurer, said Monday that it will give morethan $8.5 million over three years to 12 safety net health center programs to help treat the most vunerable patients.
The money is expected to help 66,000 patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. The programs are in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
The programs will serve low-income, medically underserved communities and include specialized services for homeless, minority, and uninsured populations.
The grant recipients are: Arlington Free Clinic; Baltimore Medical System; Calvert Healthcare Solutions; Chase Brexton Health Services; Choptank Community Health System; Community Clinic, Inc. and partner Greater Baden Medical Services; Health Care for the Homeless; Mary's Center; Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County and partners Mobile Medical Care, Inc. and Holy Cross Hospital Health Center; Spanish Catholic Center; Total Health Care and partners Family Health Centers of Baltimore and Park West Health System, Inc; and Unity Health Care.
CareFirst is expanding on a patient-centered to prevent patients from becoming ill by promoting collaboration of care between physicians, nurses, specialists and other health professionals. The hope is this kind of care would improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs.
Nationwide, safety net health centers – where a disproportionately high number of patients with chronic illnesses seek care – are estimated to save $24 billion annually, by reducing the costs of emergency visits, hospital stays and specialty care, CareFirst said.