Payer Aids Federally Qualified Health Centers in COVID-19 Efforts

Anthem Blue Cross has given more than $2 million to federally qualified health centers in order to boost California’s efforts against the coronavirus pandemic, the payer shared.

“As one of California’s largest coordinators of Medi-Cal program benefits, Anthem Blue Cross works with hundreds of FQHC’s across 29 California counties,” the announcement explained. “Anthem is also expanding supports and joint initiatives with select FQHC’s in targeted regions such as rural counties and those bearing the heaviest impact from the pandemic.”

Around 30 million Americans—or one out of every eleven Americans—receive care from federally qualified health centers, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s website. One in five of those individuals are uninsured and more than 1.4 million are homeless.

Many key healthcare activities intersect at federally qualified health centers. During the pandemic, federally qualified health centers have been a space for low-income patients to find chronic disease management support and to receive their coronavirus vaccine, among other services.

“Anthem Blue Cross recognizes the central role FQHC’s have in the lives of our members, our communities and individuals across all of California, and we value their partnership in our shared mission to improve the health of humanity,” said Barsam Kasravi, MD, president of Anthem Blue Cross, Medi-Cal.

“The pandemic may have left many organizations and their patients feeling unsettled, but Anthem is proud to serve as a partner, resource, and leader that contributes support and innovative solutions to making healthcare simpler, more effective, and more accessible.”

The payer’s funding has supported the federally qualified health center in a variety of capacities.

Related to the pandemic, the financial support has helped federally qualified health centers access personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer. Additionally, the payer worked with federally qualified health centers to support their vaccination events in underserved communities.

Anthem grants enabled a better connection between patients and their providers by offering funding for telehealth consultation platforms. Funding also went towards the California Health Homes Program which provides healthcare to homeless individuals. The payer also reinforced the patient-provider connection by funding public outreach campaigns.

The payer has delivered digital kiosks to empower federally qualified health centers’ telehealth processes. Other funds went towards upgrading the sites’ operating systems and electronic health records systems as well as updating their exam rooms.

However, federally qualified health centers were not the only stakeholders in need of technological support. Many of the centers’ patients also struggled to access healthcare technology. Anthem provided home telehealth kits for federally qualified health center patients, who may lack access to the right tools or internet to connect virtually with their providers.

“WellSpace Health serves the needs of more than 100,000 people in Sacramento, Placer, and Amador counties, who have experienced unprecedented challenges this past year amid the ongoing pandemic,” said Jonathan Porteus, chief executive officer of WellSpace Health a federally qualified health center in California.

“We have had to think outside the box, pivot and come up with innovative workarounds that would not have been possible without Anthem’s support.”

Other major payers have also recognized the value of investing in these sites of care.

Centene, for example, developed programs to support safety net providers in federally qualified health centers, small practices, and long-term service and support organizations.

“As a country, we must come together to serve the people that will be hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Michael Neidorff, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Centene, said when he announced the new program.

“We are driven to help our communities and members in their time of need, and the measures announced today are designed to help our most vulnerable populations. We will also continue to support our key local partners, including Safety Net providers, as they are the essential service providers in the communities we serve.”