Strengthening the Safety Net: Improving Access to High Quality Health Care in Michigan

safetynet@bcbsm.com

Strengthening the Safety Net grants provide funding to support clinics providing free medical, dental, and/or mental healthcare for uninsured and underinsured residents of Michigan. Applicants may apply for a grant to support clinic operations or services as a medical home.

Program strategies:

• Expanding access to care and prioritizing primary care as the front door to the health system and reducing reliance on costly acute care for vulnerable residents
• Prioritizing prevention through chronic disease screening, immunizations, health education, and other early interventions that help keep people healthier and lower long-term costs
• Strengthening coverage support and care coordination to help eligible individuals retain Medicaid, or other affordable coverage, improve continuity of care and avoid unnecessary emergency room use

Awardees are expected to support safety net patients by:

• Learning about the changes to Medicaid enrollment and work requirements and actively assisting eligible patients with navigating health coverage and enrollment
• Integrating preventive services, early-detection screening, rapid treatment pathways and robust care coordination, when possible, to expand access to timely primary care, lower the burden of disease, keep patients healthier and reduce costly emergency and inpatient care
• Providing integrated medical, dental and behavioral healthcare to the extent possible, strengthening access to primary care and assisting patients with enrollment in affordable health coverage
• Screening patients for health-related social needs and continuing to develop a network of partners to provide food, housing, and transportation
• Participating in the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics or the Free Clinics of Michigan quality standards programs, or submitting a board-approved quality assurance plan
• Referring patients to and accepting referrals from nearby emergency rooms, behavioral health providers, and others
• Partnering with local public health departments and encouraging patients to access immunizations, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), lead and other health screenings, and clinical services
• Creating environments that are more accessible to people living with physical, cognitive, sensory, and developmental disabilities
• Promoting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where those in need may receive crisis counseling, resources, and referrals

Grantee requirements:

• Continue to provide high-quality medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare; pharmaceutical assistance; and referrals to necessary specialty care, integrating services within the clinic or providing referrals to external partners
• Offer patient navigation onsite or through a reliable partner who can accurately report on navigation encounters
• Maintain relationships with nearby emergency rooms and offer care to uninsured patients
• Continue to increase patient awareness of mental illness and substance use disorder and build an effective network of treatment partners that includes promoting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Link patients to services that support good health, such as food, housing, and transportation
• Maintain records of board of directors meetings, including medical directors' reports on clinical quality

Eligibility criteria include:

• Be based in Michigan with a mission to serve low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients
• Be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization or be a community-based nonprofit organization paired with a 501(c)(3)
• Providing medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, pharmacy, or specialty care services to more than 100 patients and all interested adults
• Provide services at little or no cost to patients
• Work with volunteer administrators and clinicians
• Led by a physician, dentist, psychologist, or social worker serving as clinical director
• Operating as a community-based organization, not the local affiliate of a state or national organization
• Be in operation for at least 2 years by January 1, 2027
• Be in good standing regarding all previous Blue Cross grants, if applicable

Safety net clinics that provide episodic care, are open for limited hours, and treat more than 100 uninsured and underinsured patients annually are eligible to apply for up to $15,000 to support their operations, including clinical and patient navigation services.

Clinics that serve as medical or dental homes and are open for at least 30 hours per week or bill Medicaid are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 to support team-based care including clinical and patient navigation services. Awards at this level require a $10,000 match.

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the online application are available on the program website.