After 83 years of service to Michigan, at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan we know investing in our communities and our relationships can have long-lasting, far-reaching impacts.
Here for everyone’s health
Blue Cross is investing in the health of our communities through our support of kids’ health and nutrition programs, and through our support of hospitals as they faced unprecedented circumstances in 2020.
- More than 1,000 schools and 450,000 students across Michigan have been supported by the Building Healthy Communities program funded in part by Blue Cross – a partnership that supports children’s health by providing the resources, curriculum, equipment and professional development to create healthier environments, prevent obesity, improve achievement and address mental health and well-being. We’re also working with schools to educate students about the dangers of smoking and vaping.
- When the pandemic hit, Michigan’s health systems, physician practices and dental and vision provider offices experienced significant disruption and financial strain. Blue Cross supported Michigan hospitals by stabilizing and maintaining normal cash flow under dynamic conditions – advancing $687 million to support physicians and health systems as elective services were temporarily closed.
- Internally, we’ve established an Office of Health and Health Care Disparities to focus on assessment, data collection and analytics to identify and understand health care disparities among members.
Here for the vulnerable
Blue Cross supports organizations dedicated to making essential health care services accessible to vulnerable, uninsured Michigan residents. Much of this work is done through the independent nonprofit Michigan Health Endowment Fund, to which Blue Cross has contributed $610 million since 2014.
- Since 2005, Blue Cross has awarded more than $16 million to various safety net clinics. In 2020, $866,400 has been awarded to 47 clinics across the state through the Strengthening the Safety Net grant program.
- Blue Cross contributed $500,000 to community-based organizations helping seniors, children and others in need to connect them with meals and resources during the pandemic.
- Through contributions to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Blue Cross has worked to reduce food insecurity in 2020 by providing grants totaling more than $2.5 million to multiple Michigan organizations providing food, nutrition education, and access to healthy meals to Michiganders in need.
- In an effort to combat healthcare transportation challenges, Blue Cross has contributed to projects funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund that directly provided 28,000 healthcare-related rides to Michiganders in need. This work allows those without easy access to transportation to keep up with crucial medical appointments, fill prescriptions, and better manage chronic conditions.
Here in times of crisis
- As behavioral health and substance use concerns skyrocketed during the pandemic, Blue Cross worked with providers to launch at-home based substance use disorder treatments. Using evidence-based research to repackage traditional services into a virtual format, providers collaborated with Blue Cross to meet people where they live – innovation in a time of crisis that could change the status quo for substance use disorder treatment in the future.
- During the pandemic, we worked with community partners and grassroots organizations to ensure all residents had the information they needed to help decrease the spread of COVID-19.
We’re making sure we’re taking care of everyone in our communities. Because we’re here for all. Photo credit: Getty Images
