DURHAM, NC – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) today announced a donation of $500,000 to the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Disaster Relief Program.
“The damage left behind by Hurricane Florence has impacted practices across our state, particularly in the southeast,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC. “This donation is about doing our part to help make sure doctors can reopen their doors as soon as possible, and people can get the care they need.”
The NCMS Foundation’s Disaster Relief Program was created to reestablish the delivery of medical care to disaster affected areas of North Carolina. The program provides physician and physician assistant practices who are victims of natural disasters with financial assistance to help restore their medical practice.
“We truly appreciate the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as we begin to accept applications for grants through our Disaster Relief Program. This generous contribution will help medical practices in key counties affected by Hurricane Florence repair or rebuild so they can continue serving their communities,” said North Carolina Medical Society Foundation President Gerri Mattson MD, MSPH, FAAP. “Establishment of this relief fund is completely in keeping with the mission of the NCMS Foundation – to improve access to quality health care for all North Carolinians.”
The Disaster Relief Program will provide grants to help get practices back up and running by covering expenses related to relocating or rehabilitating a medical practice damaged by Hurricane Florence, including:
- Replacing equipment
- Aiding essential medical practice staff
- Rebuilding patient records
- Telephone system replacements
- Signage
- Medical laboratory supplies and other similar costs
A portion of the funds donated will be used to directly benefit Brunswick, Columbus, Robeson and New Hanover County physicians and medical professionals as they rebuild after Hurricane Florence. These counties have reported shortages following the storm in primary care and behavioral health providers.
The remaining funds will support recovery efforts statewide.
Funds can be applied for through the NCMS Foundation here. Additional information on the Disaster Relief Fund can be found here.
In September, Blue Cross NC announced a $1.5 million donation to help North Carolinians recovering from Hurricane Florence. In addition, Blue Cross NC employees donated more than $63,000 towards recovery efforts.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. As a natural extension, Blue Cross NC has created Healthy Blue to respond to North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services bid to transform Medicaid. Healthy Blue is a proposed plan intended to serve the millions of North Carolinians who participate in the state’s Medicaid program. Healthy Blue will combine Blue Cross NC’s deep local expertise together with Amerigroup Partnerships Plan’s best-in-class Medicaid managed care capabilities.
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