Health Care and Coverage
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Program Director
Brenda Solórzano
With extensive healthcare experience from a career spanning both the public sector and non-profit sector, Ms. Sólorzano leads the Foundation’s grantmaking around universal coverage efforts.
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Key Facts
Fact: One in five Californians has no health insurance.
Of the nearly 7 million Californians without insurance, more than 80 percent are workers and their family members. Research shows that those without health insurance are less likely to access health services in a timely fashion and often have worse health outcomes than the insured.
Meanwhile, premiums for employer-sponsored family coverage have increased 78 percent since 2001, with healthcare spending growning faster than inflation.
We envision a future in which every Californian has access to affordable health insurance and efficient health services. This vision will not be realized quickly or easily, but we're committed to seeing it through.
As we fight for long-term change - change that requires government, businesses, and individuals to share responsibility for healthcare costs - we'll continue to support the safety net that millions of uninsured Californians rely on now for medical care
Health Care and Coverage - the Foundation's largest grantmaking program area - is focused on the following three goals:
1) Serving as a catalyst for universal coverage through a shared responsibility approach. That means all stakeholders - government, employers, and individuals - play a role. We'll do this by:
- Identifying and cultivating key leaders who will help make universal coverage through shared responsibility a reality
- Supporting organizations and forums that advance shared responsibility reform efforts among diverse stakeholders
- Participating in the public policy arena and educating stakeholders who are critical to the policy process
2) Strengthening the healthcare safety net's ability to provide quality care for uninsured Californians by:
- Building the leadership and capacity of community clinics
- Supporting efforts that ensure community clinics are financially and operationally healthy
3) Supporting innovative approaches to expanding coverage for uninsured Californians, such as:
- Funding premium subsidies for uninsured children through the Healthy Kids programs
- Exploring new and innovative models for health coverage, and/or access, that use a shared responsibility approach
Grants Awarded in 2008: 241
Totaling: $18,895,310
NOTE: Most Blue Shield of California Foundation grantmaking is invitation-only and made through Foundation-driven initiatives. Unsolicited requests for support are welcome for projects that pursue activities related to a limited number of program objectives.
For more information, please review the eligibility guidelines in our Grant Center.
Funding Examples
Core Support Clinic and Consortia Initiative
More than 200 licensed community clinics, free clinics, and clinic consortia in California receive core support funds for use wherever they are most needed. A recent evaluation found that the Initiative's biggest impact was improving clinics' ability to deliver services by covering operating expenses, stabilizing their finances, sustaining current levels of service and covering uncompensated care costs. The next cycle for this invitation-only initiative will launch in summer 2009.
Clinic Leadership Institute (CLI)
A signature program of the Foundation, CLI offers leadership and management training to emerging leaders in community clinics and health centers so that they become effective and passionate change agents in California's rapidly evolving healthcare environment. Applications for the 2010 Institute will be available online beginning August 1, 2009.
Roadmap to Universal Coverage
As the nation debates strategies for expanding health coverage, the Foundation continues to act as a catalyst for comprehensive reform in California. Through strategic grantmaking and convening forums with stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare experts, businesses, and advocates, the Foundation promotes collaboration while seeding new ideas and strategies.
Healthy Kids Premium Subsidy Initiative
The Healthy Kids Premium Subsidy Initiative maintains health coverage for children otherwise not eligible for existing government health programs. We've invested more than $27 million in Healthy Kids premium subsidies to help maintain coverage for over 7,000 children in 19 California counties.
