DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is awarding free clinics throughout the state a total of $1 million in grants that will provide health services to individuals and families without health insurance. With the Michigan unemployment rate currently at 15.3 percent more Michigan residents than ever are going without health insurance.

“In these difficult times, free clinics are putting health care in reach for people who need it,” said Lynda Rossi, Blues vice president for Social Mission and Public Affairs. “Free clinics are a place for uninsured people to turn to for quality health care. Uninsured residents who get care in free clinics often otherwise would delay seeing a physician because of the cost. Delay often leads to more expensive care in emergency rooms and even hospital stays.”

The Blues have contributed $5 million to free clinics since 2005. This year’s grant program aims to help clinics provide important services like primary care and behavioral health care, case management, dental services, specialty and diagnostic care, and prescription drugs.

“Most of our patients are dealing with one or more long-term diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma,” said Dave Law, executive director of the Joy-Southfield Health and Education Center in Detroit. “We also supplement our primary care with preventive health education and disease management strategies.”

About 2.5 million Michigan residents under 65 years old went without health insurance at some time between 2007 and 2008. Many of these individuals, along with the underinsured, are able to seek medical care from these clinics instead of making a trip to the emergency room or forgoing care. Access to free clinics also helps curb the rising cost of health care. In 2008, Michigan free clinics were able to provide an estimated 122,000 patient visits combined.

The HUDA Clinic on Davison Ave. in Detroit, opened and operated by members of the Muslim community, is one of the grant recipients.

Midwest Health Plan recognized for multicultural care

DEARBORN — The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized Midwest Health Plan as a leader in innovation in creating tools and practices that are culturally sensitive and help bridge the language barriers of their members by honoring MHP’s “Caring for Culture – Caring for Women” program with their NCQA 2009 Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award.

Seventy five percent of MHP’s service area members come from Dearborn and Detroit’s Spanish-speaking, Arabic or African American population. MHP created their “Caring for Culture – Caring for Women” program to help improve use of preventive health screening measures such as pap smears, mammograms, chlamydia screening as well as prenatal and postpartum services among their minority members. In the two years since the program was launched, MHP has seen dramatic increases in the timely use of these services by their members. Timely access to prenatal care improved by 26% and postpartum care increased by 37%. Screening for chlamydia, one of the most common STDs increased by 42%.

The program’s results are largely due to efforts by MHP to create a more culturally sensitive environment by ensuring Arabic and Spanish-speaking medical assistants, physicians and office staff were available at medical offices. A number of additional components include partnering with community organizations to promote health education and outreach within the Dearborn and Detroit Communities, providing gift card incentives to members that obtained selective preventive care and postpartum care and hosting two Mammogram and Pap Smear Screening days at its largest health center. Women who were overdue for mammograms and pap smears were notified of the screening day and MHP helped to schedule and provide transportation.

“We’re honored that NCQA has recognized our efforts here in the Detroit area,” said Dr. Mark Saffer, CEO of MHP. “We know that preventive care makes a major difference in the quality of life for people. If we can help people access healthcare early, we know there’s a much greater chance for positive outcomes – and that’s our ultimate goal.”

Also honored with NCQA’s award this year were four other managed care programs: Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Independence Blue Cross and L.A. Care Health Plan.

Midwest Health Plan is a licensed HMO. Currently, Midwest Health Plan has over 66,000 Medicaid enrollees in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, Macomb, Livingston and St. Clair Counties.

For more information, visit Midwest Health Plan at www.Midwesthealthplan.com and Midwest Health Systems at www.midwesthealth.org.

Michigan Roundtable honors diversity leaders

DETROIT — Sandra Pierce, president and CEO of Charter One, Michigan, one of the largest financial institutions in the state, Saul Green, deputy mayor of Detroit, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be honored for their contributions to fighting racism and discrimination at the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s 62nd Annual Humanitarian Tribute at noon Thursday, Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand Detroit Hotel Ballroom, 1777 Third Street, Detroit.

Pierce and Green will share the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be honored with the William Beckham, Jr. Community Service Award. Foundation President Mariam C. Noland will accept the award on behalf of the foundation. Reginald Turner of the Clark Hill law firm is honorary chair of the tribute.

Tickets are $150. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 313.870.1500. The Tribute includes six levels of sponsorship opportunity, as well as individual sponsorship tickets at $250.

Pierce is a past member of the Michigan Roundtable board of directors, and previously served as honorary chair of the Humanitarian Tribute. She has been a leader in encouraging diversity in her organization and throughout the community. Charter One is a supporter of diversity and inclusion organizations and celebrations throughout the nation, and is an important backer of Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s Leadership in the New Century (LINC) program, which focuses on diversity education programs for K-12 systems.

Saul A. Green is the Group Executive for Public Safety and Deputy Mayor of the City of Detroit. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Mayor, he was senior counsel and a member of the Miller Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC and a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion is a nonprofit human relations organization that seeks to eliminate discrimination and racism by working proactively across racial, religious, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. The Roundtable helps build sustainable, inclusive communities, businesses and institutions through diversity training, advocacy, conflict resolution, interfaith collaboration, youth leadership training, and community dialogue. For more information, visit www.miroundtable.org.