Home Health Care Independence Blue Cross Foundation commits $15M to create Institute for Health Equity

Independence Blue Cross Foundation commits $15M to create Institute for Health Equity

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Increasingly, financial and human resources are being committed to address health disparities in communities across the U.S. The approaches to tackling inequities are as diverse as the problems themselves, and action is being taken on a federal, state and local level.

Adding to the effort, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation announced Wednesday that it was committing $15 million over a five-year period to the creation of a new program, the Institute for Health Equity. The Institute is a regional endeavor covering five counties in southeast Pennsylvania and focused on addressing policies and practices that have hindered communities from achieving optimal health, according the Foundation.

The Institute’s initial focus areas will include digital health, cultural competence in medicine and maternal health, reflecting some key areas where inequities exist in healthcare. For example, the digital divide—the gap between people who have access to modern technology, including internet, and those who don’t—has contributed to access problems for low-income and rural populations.

Separately, issues around maternal health continue to persistent, with Black women disproportionately affected. In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report finding that maternal mortality rates were nearly 3 times higher for Black women than White women.

To improve population health, experts say that inequities must be addressed.

“Health care organizations must invest in inclusive innovation that improves the health of everyone, and that’s our goal with the IBC Foundation Institute for Health Equity,” said Gregory E. Deavens, president and CEO of Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross, in a statement. “There are unacceptable disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, and we can’t wait any longer to address these conditions. The impact on people’s lives and livelihoods are critically important and require immediate action.”

Addressing those issues fits within the larger framework of the private, charitable foundation, which was launched by Independence Blue Cross in 2011. By the end of this year, the Foundation will have awarded $70 million since its inception to impact the health of communities, with grants going to nonprofits and research, according to the organization.

Its initiatives aim to improve access to primary care and behavioral health in underserved communities, increase educational opportunities in the healthcare workforce, address the stigma surrounding addiction, and support treatment and recovery for people with substance use disorder, according to the Foundation.

“Health equity is integral to our ongoing philanthropic commitment to improve the health and well-being of our community,” said Reverend Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Foundation. “Through the Institute, we will work collaboratively across sectors to leverage research, expertise, and invest our resources to be a national leader in improving the health of disadvantaged groups.”

Photo: PeterPencil, Getty Images

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