CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) plans to award up to $3 million in telehealth grants over the next three years to programs aimed at increasing patients’ access to quality health care services through the use of telemedicine in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
In an effort to remove barriers to care and address existing health outcome disparities in its service area, CareFirst has issued a request for proposals from qualified nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, or public (governmental) entities seeking funding for innovative programs using telemedicine to improve access to health care and increase efficiency.
Grant Proposals Overview
Proposals must be submitted online via the Expanding Access to Medical Care through Telemedicine Application and must be completed no later than Nov. 23, 2015. CareFirst will provide additional information during a pre-application webinar on Oct. 26. Proposals should focus on telemedicine interactions between provider and patient.
CareFirst has previously contributed more than $1.3 million to support the use of telemedicine in its service area. In 2013, CareFirst issued an RFP on the use of telemedicine to expand access to behavioral health services in underserved rural and urban communities. Organizations receiving funding include Associated Catholic Charities, Atlantic General Hospital, Sheppard Pratt Health System and La Clinica del Pueblo.
