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
