Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan helps thousands of uninsured Michigan residents receive medical treatment with free clinic grants

DETROIT, Oct. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 10^th year in a row, 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.

In 2014, with the distribution of 53 "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.  The grants have 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," said 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 also will 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, Mich.

Alpena County
Free Clinic of Alpena – Alpena, Mich.

Barry County
Barry Community Free Clinic – Hastings, Mich.

Bay County
Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic – Essexville, Mich.

Branch County
Presbyterian Health Clinic of Branch County – Coldwater, Mich.

Calhoun County
Community HealthCare Connections – Battle Creek, Mich.
Fountain Clinic – Marshall, Mich.

Charlevoix County
Boyne Area Free Clinic – Boyne City, Mich.

Cheboygan County
Northern Care Center – Cheboygan, Mich. 

Crawford County
AuSable Free Clinic – Grayling, Mich.

Dickinson County
Care Free Dental of Dickinson and Florence – Iron Mountain, Mich.

Genesee County
Genesee County Free Medical Clinic – Flint, Mich.

Hillsdale County
St. Peter's Free Clinic of Hillsdale County – Hillsdale, Mich.

Ingham County
Cristo Rey Health Clinic – Lansing, Mich.
Care Free Medical & Dental – Lansing, Mich.
His Healing Hands – Lansing, Mich.

Isabella County
Isabella Citizens for Health – Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Jackson County
St. Luke's Clinic – Jackson, Mich.

Kent County 
Catherine's Health Center – Grand Rapids, Mich.
Health Intervention Services – Grand Rapids, Mich.
Oasis of Hope Center – Grand Rapids, Mich.
Baxter Community Center – Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lapeer County
Loving Hands Clinic – Lapeer, Mich.

Livingston County
Faith Medical Clinic – Pinckney, Mich. 
VINA Community Dental Center – Brighton, Mich.

Macomb County 
St. John Providence Physicians Who Care – Warren, Mich.

Mecosta County 
Hope House Free Medical Clinic – Big Rapids, Mich.

Oakland County
Centro Multicultural La Familia – Pontiac, Mich.
Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic – Pontiac, Mich.
FernCare Free Clinic – Ferndale, Mich.
Mercy Place (St. Joseph Mercy) – Pontiac, Mich.
Tri-County Dental Program (Jewish Family Services) – Southfield, Mich.

Ottawa County
City on a Hill Health Clinic – Zeeland, Mich.
Holland Free Health Clinic – Holland, Mich.
Love in the Name of Christ Free Health Clinic – Grand Haven, Mich.

Saginaw County
Saginaw Area Foundation for Eye Care – Saginaw, Mich.
St. Mary's of Michigan Center of HOPE Free Clinics – Saginaw, Mich. 

Shiawassee County 
Shiawassee Free Medical Clinic – Owosso, Mich.

St. Clair County
People's Clinic For Better Health – Port Huron Township, Mich.

St. Joseph County 
Riverside Health Clinic – Three Rivers, Mich.

Washtenaw County
Hope Medical Clinic - Ypsilanti Clinic – Ypsilanti, Mich. 
Packard Health – Ann Arbor, Mich.
Shelter Association of Washtenaw County – Ann Arbor, Mich. 

Wayne County
ACC Primary Care Clinic (Arab American and Chaldean Council) – Detroit, Mich.
Cass Clinic – Detroit, Mich.
Dr. Albert B Cleage, Sr. Memorial Health Center – Detroit, Mich.
Hope Medical Clinic - Wayne Clinic – Westland, Mich.
HUDA Clinic – Detroit, Mich.
Order of Malta Medical and Dental Clinic – Detroit, Mich.
Society of St. Vincent DePaul Dental Clinic – Detroit, Mich.
St. Francis Cabrini Clinic – Detroit, Mich.
Wyandotte Clinic for the Working Uninsured – Wyandotte, Mich.

Wexford County
Stehouwer Free Clinic – Cadillac, Mich.

For more information on Blue Cross' "Strengthening the Safety Net" program, visit bcbsm.com or MiBluesPerspectives.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com  and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

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