 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Press Releases
|
Press ReleaseIBC Hosts Best Practices Conference for Local ClinicsPhiladelphia, PA - February 23, 2007 - They help the hidden, the voiceless, and the overwhelmed – the uninsured and the working poor – who could easily fall through the cracks. Located in the heart of the communities they help, area non-profit medical clinics are a formidable force in helping families find the health care they need and supporting the health of the Philadelphia region. To maximize their impact in the region, more than 75 representatives from 28 local medical clinics will gather today at Independence Blue Cross (IBC) headquarters in Philadelphia at a daylong conference to share their experiences and best practices. These 28 clinics are recipients of the IBC Charitable Medical Care Grant Program, a five-year, $10 million program that offers financial support to local clinics that provide free or nominal-fee care to uninsured residents who otherwise would not have access to health care. The IBC Best Practices Conference is the only one of its kind in the area that gives charitable medical clinics an opportunity to share effective strategies and techniques that solve common problems and enhance clinic services. It is the third time since 2004 that IBC has hosted the conference. With more than 47 million Americans uninsured in the United States – 225,000 adults and 37,000 children in southeastern Pennsylvania – access to health care has become a top priority in the nation and in Pennsylvania. Local charitable clinics have been in the forefront in providing needed primary care services for many in the community. With a small cadre of dedicated staff, these 28 local clinics serve nearly 100,000 patients every year – patients that might otherwise turn to the emergency room, if they seek medical care at all – and ultimately reduce the incidents of uncompensated care, one driver in rising health care costs. “These clinics offer a profoundly important community service for many of the region’s underserved. Not only are they a valuable resource of quality medical care, but they also provide the physical and spiritual support many disadvantaged families need to get back on their feet,” said Joseph A. Frick, IBC president and chief executive officer. “Through funding and opportunities such as our best practices conference, IBC is committed to supporting these clinics that make a very large difference in the lives of many.” IBC’s Charitable Medical Care Grant Program provides financial support that offers stability to clinics that depend on fundraised dollars and gives them the ability to plan for clinic operations, improvement, and success. Clinics have used the grant money to increase their office hours, increase available medications, develop or enhance patient health and educational programs; add ancillary professionals (dental, social work, mental health), and even ensure they have heat and running water through general operating expenses. “In 2003, IBC’s Charitable Medical Care Grant Program provided funding for St. Catherine’s at a time when we were threatened with having to close our doors for lack of funding. The financial stability provided by IBC’s multi-year commitment has enabled St. Catherine’s to continue to meet the primary care medical needs of the hundreds of uninsured, low-income patients that come to us for care, keeping them out of emergency rooms and far more expensive secondary care,” Sheila Davis, D.O., co-director at St. Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic in Philadelphia. About Independence Blue Cross Independence Blue Cross recently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO and PPO health care plans. In addition, in 2005, Independence Blue Cross’s Personal Choice was rated the No. 1 PPO in the nation and its Keystone HMO was ranked the No. 1 HMO in the region by health care consumers in a leading independent consumer magazine. The grant recipients of the IBC Charitable Medical Care Grant Program
|