BCBSTX Launches SDOH Grant Cycle for Community-Based Organizations

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has launched a grant cycle for 2022-2023 in which the payer will support social determinants of health, health and wellness, and health equity initiatives through partnerships with nonprofit community-based organizations.

The Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) program started in 2011 as a 3-year initiative. BCBSTX has since expanded the program and has awarded more than $17 million in grants to community-based organizations across Texas.

The program has always sought to improve the health and wellbeing of families and children, but the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of addressing health equity as well.

“It’s critical that we support community-based organizations engaged in initiatives directly supporting children and families,” Sheena Payne, director of BCBSTX Community Investments, stated in the press release.

“At the same time, we must also keep our focus on helping those who have been impacted by the health, economic, and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we annually seek to partner with organizations that are doing the work of impacting health across Texas.”

The program bases funding allocation on four key areas: disease prevention and management, nutrition, physical activity, and safe environments. In the past few years, the payer has committed to addressing social determinants of health, such as housing instability and education access.

The payer stated that organizations must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the grants. First, they must be a nonprofit, tax exempt government, civic, or cultural organization.

The community-based organizations must also have a current annual budget of $2 million or more and enough staff members to manage their proposed project.

Additionally, applicants are required to partner with a health organization—such as a hospital, clinic, or federally qualified health center—to work with them on the project.

BCBSTX stated that the funds are not available to organizations with written policies that discriminate against minority populations, school athletic programs, or individuals.

The payer also noted on its website that it will prioritize community-based organizations with projects that support access to care, chronic disease management, prevention and risk reduction, and community involvement.

Organizations must go through a two-step application process for a chance to receive funding.

The first stage began on February 2, 2022 and is open until February 16, 2022. Organizations can submit their letter of interest online. If they are selected, they receive an invitation code for the second stage of the application process, which runs from March 17, 2022 to March 31, 2022.

In 2021, BCBSTX awarded nearly $1.9 million in HKHF grants to community-based organizations across Texas.

More and more payers are starting to prioritize members’ social determinants of health as they develop wellness programs and partnerships with community-based organizations.

For example, in June 2021, Humana partnered with Alamo Area Community Network, an alliance of community-based organizations in San Antonio, Texas. The network offers resources and programs to help residents access food, transportation, childcare, and housing financial support, among other social determinants of health.

The partnership allowed Humana’s Medicare Advantage population to access this slew of social determinants of health resources.

In March 2021, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois distributed $350,000 to six community-based organizations in Chicago to help address maternal and racial care disparities. The organizations offered a handful of different services, including a home visitation program for young mothers and a program that provides on-call doulas.

Major payer UnitedHealthcare also granted $11.4 million to community-based organizations in July 2021. The recipients offer programs that provide underserved communities with resources that address food insecurity, transportation, mental health, and prenatal care.