Blue Shield of California Foundation Announces $7.3M in Health Grants
On Tuesday, Blue Shield of California Foundation officials announced $7.3 million in third-quarter grants to support implementation of the federal health reform law, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Grant Details
The new grants bring the foundation's total grants to $23 million for the first three quarters of 2012, which is 28% more than the $18 million it provided for the same period in 2011.
The third-quarter grants are more than three times the $2 million that the foundation provided during last year's third quarter.
Grant Goals
The new grants seek to help increase health care efficiency, expand access to care and improve care quality, according to officials.
Officials said that of the total $7.3 million in new grants:
- $3.1 million will go toward improving health care services and coverage;
- $2.8 million will go toward improving an unidentified "innovation incubator" developed to help safety net providers following implementation of the health reform law; and
- Nearly $1 million will fund rural safety net integration efforts.
Other grants went to organizations such as:
- Primary Care Association in Sacramento;
- Public Health Institute in Oakland; and
- TechSoup Global in San Francisco.
Brenda Solorzano -- the foundation's chief program director -- said the grants reflect the foundation's commitment to "successful implementation" of the health reform law.
She said that grant recipients' work this year is "critical to that success" (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 9/25). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.