Independence Blue Cross, the Philadelphia region's largest health insurer, is accepting applications for the next round of its Clinical Care Innovation Grants.
The program is designed to support programs and products that improve the health status of Independence members and the community at large.
The health insurer previously awarded grants in 2021 and 2022. Recipients have included Jefferson Health, Temple Health, Penn Medicine, and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.
Last year's grant winners included a telehealth-enabled integrated palliative care program for people with dementia, which is led by Dr. Brooke Worster, director of the division of supportive oncology at Jefferson Health; and Penn Medicine's pregnancy early access center for urgent pregnancy care led by Dr. Courtney Schreiber, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and chief of family planning at the health system.
“Past grant winners have already reported positive results, showing that the work these grants support can make a real difference in patient care and outcomes," said Dr. Rodrigo Cerdá, senior vice president of health services and chief medical officer at Independence.
An example cited is Newtown Square-based Trinty Health Mid-Atlantic's program that has shown improvements in chronic kidney disease patients who receive nutritionist consultations.
Independence said health systems and large specialty groups that are in the Independence network and have a value-based contract are encouraged to apply for a 2023 grant.
The health insurer is seeking ideas that focus on:
- Taking new approaches to health care that leverage technology and virtual care;
- Expanding access to health care, including care in the home setting;
- Advancing health equity and behavioral health;
- Improving quality of care delivery;
- Enhancing the patient experience;
- Lowering health care costs.
Independence expects to award up to five Clinical Care Innovation Grants in 2023, with each grant averaging $200,000. Grant submissions are due by Nov. 3, 2022. An individual entity is permitted up to three submissions.
The entrees will be evaluated internally by an Independence review committee.
