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Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community has awarded a second $1 million grant to the Delaware Medical Education Foundation (DMEF), one of the Medical Society of Delaware's two charitable foundations, to continue a collaborative Primary Care Investment Initiative (PCII).
“Continuing to invest in Delaware’s health workforce remains a priority of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and Highmark Health Options,” said Nick Moriello, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. “We are proud to provide additional support to the Delaware Medical Education Foundation in empowering primary care providers to improve sustainability, efficiency, and ultimately patient health outcomes.”
For 2023-2024, the PCII will target independent primary care practices whose physicians are also active members of the Medical Society of Delaware (MSD). Through a formal process, the PCII will make financial stimulus awards available to eligible practices who propose an implementation-ready, qualified method to prepare their practice for sustainable success in value-based care. Grant awards will be up to $25,000 per practice in this 2023-2024 cycle. There may be other funding opportunities available to primary care practices in 2024. Examples of how the grant funding can be used to promote success in value-based care include:
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Staffing: Clinical support, care coordinators, social workers, drug/alcohol counselors, community health workers, or Quality, Data, Information Technology professionals.
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System Enhancement: Information technology to launch telehealth, or support population health (upgrades to electronic medical records and reporting suites).
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Service Development: Co-located or integrated behavioral health, holistic and/or enabling supports.
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General: Minor Alterations to repurpose or expand office space to support better patent workflow.
As a result of the first grant of $1 million dollars in 2022, 24 primary care practices representing 68 Physicians were awarded funding. Nearly 140,000 Delawareans are benefitting through these investments.
According to Robert Varipapa, MD, President of the Medical Society of Delaware, “We are pleased to receive continued grant funding to support independent primary care practices with the tools and resources necessary to enhance patient access and quality of care for Delawareans.”
For questions, eligibility information, and more, please contact Lori Ann Rhoads, MSD Director of Health System Innovation, at LoriAnn.Rhoads@medsocdel.org or at 302-224-5182.
Applications must be submitted to DMEF via the referenced link no later than Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
In addition, there may be separate funding resources for practices (to be announced) in regards to grant writers. Funding will assist in covering costs to secure a professional grant writer for primary care practices. The grant writer will assist practices in applying for State or Federal grant dollars that may provide more financial support.
About the Delaware Medical Education Foundation, Ltd.: The Medical Society of Delaware (MSD) formed the Delaware Medical Education Foundation, Ltd. (DMEF) in 1992 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization to provide funding for:
- Improving and expanding medical education programs, thereby providing Delaware physicians with up-to-the-minute clinical information in the ever-changing field of medical science; and
- Sponsoring programs to educate the public on healthcare-related issues.
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