Blue Cross Blue Shield Helps Fund Michigan Medical Clinics

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DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is helping to fund more than 50 free medical clinics across Michigan to help the uninsured get the care they need. 

Through “Strengthening the Safety Net” grants, Blue Cross will have provided more than $10 million to support safety net providers across Michigan since the grant program was created in 2005.  This year, 53 safety net grants were distributed, which enabled free clinics to care for more than 60,000 Michigan patients and their families annually, and accounted for more than one million patient medical visits.

“Safety net clinics provide access to care for tens of thousands of uninsured Michigan residents in need of medical treatment, and without these clinics patients would delay and even forego care at great cost to themselves, their families and the health care system,” says Kim Kratz, BCBSM senior health care analyst.  “Blue Cross understands the need for free clinics isn’t going away, and our partnerships help many in the state gain access to much needed care and, in some cases, life-saving services.”

This year, grant recipients will each receive $15,000 in funding to assist with daily operations, while enhancing the services they offer, including:  prescription assistance; medications to patients between pending insurance coverage; dental care; and enrollment assistance for the Healthy Michigan expanded Medicaid plan.

The clinics will also help newly insured patients transition from a free clinic to a new primary care provider, and access additional services and support.

The following is a listing of the 2014 “Strengthening the Safety Net” grant recipients:

  • Allegan County
    Renewed Hope Health Clinic – Allegan
  • Alpena County
    Free Clinic of Alpena – Alpena
  • Barry County
    Barry Community Free Clinic – Hastings
  • Bay County
    Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic – Essexville
  • Branch County
    Presbyterian Health Clinic of Branch County – Coldwater
  • Calhoun County
    Community HealthCare Connections – Battle Creek
    Fountain Clinic – Marshall
  • Charlevoix County
    Boyne Area Free Clinic – Boyne City
  • Cheboygan County
    Northern Care Center – Cheboygan
  • Crawford County
    AuSable Free Clinic – Grayling
  • Dickinson County
    Care Free Dental of Dickinson and Florence – Iron Mountain
  • Genesee County
    Genesee County Free Medical Clinic – Flint
  • Hillsdale County
    St. Peter’s Free Clinic of Hillsdale County – Hillsdale
  • Ingham County
    Cristo Rey Health Clinic – Lansing
    Care Free Medical & Dental – Lansing
    His Healing Hands – Lansing
  • Isabella County
    Isabella Citizens for Health – Mount Pleasant
  • Jackson County
    St. Luke’s Clinic – Jackson
  • Kent County
    Catherine’s Health Center – Grand Rapids
    Health Intervention Services – Grand Rapids
    Oasis of Hope Center – Grand Rapids
    Baxter Community Center – Grand Rapids
  • Lapeer County
    Loving Hands Clinic – Lapeer 
  • Livingston County
    Faith Medical Clinic – Pinckney
    VINA Community Dental Center – Brighton
  • Macomb County
    St. John Providence Physicians Who Care – Warren
  • Mecosta County
    Hope House Free Medical Clinic – Big Rapids
  • Oakland County
    Centro Multicultural La Familia – Pontiac
    Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic – Pontiac
    FernCare Free Clinic – Ferndale
    Mercy Place (St. Joseph Mercy) – Pontiac
    Tri-County Dental Program (Jewish Family Services) – Southfield
  • Ottawa County
    City on a Hill Health Clinic – Zeeland
    Holland Free Health Clinic – Holland
    Love in the Name of Christ Free Health Clinic – Grand Haven
  • Saginaw County
    Saginaw Area Foundation for Eye Care – Saginaw
    St. Mary’s of Michigan Center of HOPE Free Clinics – Saginaw,
  • Shiawassee County 
    Shiawassee Free Medical Clinic – Owosso.
  • St. Clair County
    People’s Clinic For Better Health – Port Huron Township 
  • St. Joseph County
    Riverside Health Clinic – Three Rivers
  • Washtenaw County
    Hope Medical Clinic – Ypsilanti Clinic – Ypsilanti
    Packard Health – Ann Arbor
    Shelter Association of Washtenaw County – Ann Arbor
  • Wayne County
    ACC Primary Care Clinic (Arab American and Chaldean Council) – Detroit
    Cass Clinic – Detroit
    Dr. Albert B Cleage, Sr. Memorial Health Center – Detroit
    Hope Medical Clinic – Wayne Clinic – Westland
    HUDA Clinic – Detroit
    Order of Malta Medical and Dental Clinic – Detroit
    Society of St. Vincent DePaul Dental Clinic – Detroit
    St. Francis Cabrini Clinic – Detroit
    Wyandotte Clinic for the Working Uninsured – Wyandotte
  • Wexford County
    Stehouwer Free Clinic – Cadillac