Dive Brief:
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield announced plans to provide almost $3 million in funding to 10 healthcare organizations in its service area of Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
- Its goal is to help those organizations broaden their availability to underserved populations through the use of telemedicine.
- CareFirst notes these awards bring its total investment in regional telemedicine services to more than $4.2 million.
Dive Insight:
The 10 organizations were selected after responding to CareFirst's 2015 request for proposals from public health and nonprofit organizations working to implement telemedicine programs as a solution toward healthcare barriers and disparities in outcomes.
"CareFirst's support for programs like these is a crucial component to bringing adequate health care services to those who need it most," CareFirst Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs Maria Harris Tildon said in a prepared statement.
"Whether improving upon behavioral health services, enhancing care coordination, or increasing the availability of specialty care, support for each of these initiatives will help provide invaluable and innovative care to some of our most underserved communities," Tildon added.
The insurer selected its winning proposals based on community need, technical viability and sustainability, and plans to distribute the money over the course of three years.
The recipients included:
- Children's Hospital Foundation - $300,000
- Cornerstone Montgomery - $415,000
- George Washington University Medical Faculty Practice - $410,000
- Queen Anne's County Department of Health - $400,000
- Mosaic Community Services - $501,590