WASHINGTON – America’s leading doctors, nurses, clinicians, hospitals, health insurance providers, biopharmaceutical companies and employers are committed to working together in this unprecedented time to ensure every American can access the care they need and deserve. As we work to help defeat and overcome COVID-19, the free market is working to fill gaps to protect our most vulnerable.

Health Care Providers, Hospitals And Pharmaceutical Companies Are Acting Quickly To Protect Vulnerable Populations:

Event 201, A Simulated Pandemic Exercise Presented By The Johns Hopkins Center For Health Security, World Economic Forum, And The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Found Private-Public Partnership Was Key In Handling Problems. “Event 201 also found private-public partnership was key in handling problems, and this wasn’t really seen in the first three months of the COVID-19 outbreak, Toner says.  ‘It’s not just the government finding the solution … many of the things we need to fight this outbreak are coming out of the private sector,’ Sell adds.” (Eileen Drage O’Reilly, “What Pandemic Prep Experts Have Learned From This Coronavirus So Far,” Axios, 4/23/20)

Public-Private Partnerships For Contact Tracing Is A Part Of The Solution To Help Stop COVID-19. “As the biomedical community works to develop treatments and vaccines for Covid-19, a national strategy of social distancing, broad testing, and isolating individuals with the virus will be required to stop its spread. Contact tracing – identifying individuals who have been infected with the virus and the people they’ve been in contact with – must be at the core of this strategy.  It is exactly what is needed for a safe return to a ‘new normal.’” (Jaewon Ryu & Karen M. Murphy, “Public-Private Partnerships For Contact Tracing Can Help Stop Covid-19,” STAT, 4/24/20)

FDA, UnitedHealth Group, Gates Foundation, Quantigen And U.S. Cotton Collaborate To Address Testing Supply Needs. “’We appreciate work by UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, and the Gates Foundation to perform and support the clinical studies necessary for this advancement.  We also want to acknowledge U.S. Cotton’s efforts to manufacture a new type of swab for COVID-19 testing that can be produced at scale.  We appreciate the work of these collaborators to consider how these test supplies could be broadly distributed to meet not only the testing needs of the United States but also global needs around the pandemic.’” (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA, Gates Foundation, UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, And U.S. Cotton Collaborate To Address Testing Supply Needs,” Press Release, 4/16/20)

President Trump Announced A New Initiative For Hospitals To Lend Unused Ventilators To Areas Of Need. “President Trump on Tuesday announced a new public-private partnership aimed at allowing hospitals to lend unused ventilators to areas that need them to treat patients who have contracted the novel coronavirus.  Trump announced the new initiative, which he called the ‘Dynamic Ventilator Reserve,’ during a meeting with healthcare executives at the White House Tuesday afternoon.  He said there were 60,000 unused ventilators in hospitals across the country and that the new program would help get the critical devices to areas that need them.” (Morgan Chalfant, “Trump Announces New Initiative For Hospitals To Lend Unused Ventilators To Areas Of Need,” The Hill, 4/14/20)

America’s Health Insurance Plans Is Committed To Matching The Waivers Provided By Medicare And Will Temporarily Suspend Or Relax Additional Policies As Needed In The Hardest Hit Areas. (Statement By The AHIP Board Of Directors, “Helping Our Hospital And Health System Partners Build Capacity and Confront Coronavirus (COVID‐19),” AHIP, 3/23/20)   

“Health Insurance Providers Have Been Providing Resources To Help People Avoid Loneliness During A Time Of Extraordinary Social Distancing.” “The response to COVID-19 has changed life for millions of Americans and threatens to accelerate a loneliness crisis in America.  This issue is real, and that’s why health insurance providers have been providing resources to help people avoid loneliness during a time of extraordinary social distancing.” (“Answering The Call: Health Insurance Providers Act Swiftly As Part Of The COVID-19 Solution,” AHIP, 3/20)

Aetna Announced It Will Ship Boxes Of Specially Curated, Over-The-Counter Items To All Its Medicare Advantage Members Across The Country.  Kits Include A Thermometer, Hand Sanitizer And Two Aetna-Branded Face Masks, Among Other Items. (Aetna, “Aetna Ships Caring For You Kits To Millions Of Medicare Members,” Press Release, 9/15/20)

• Aetna Is “Extending Its Medicare Advantage Virtual Evaluation And Monitoring Visit Benefit To All Fully Insured Members.  People Diagnosed With COVID-19 Will Receive A Care Package.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

Aflac Is Making A $1 Million Donation To Crisis Text Line, A Global, Not-For-Profit Organization That Specializes In Mental Health Intervention. (Aflac, “Aflac Incorporated Donates $1 Million To Crisis Text Line To Assist Frontline Workers In U.S. Experiencing Emotional Distress Donation To Assist Crisis Text Line’s Recently Enacted Campaign, For The Frontlines, Serving Front Line Workers Battling The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 5/26/20)

Aflac Contributed $5 Million Donation To Two Organizations That Are Providing Assistance For Health Care Workers On The Front Lines Of The COVID-19 Pandemic: $2 Million To The Global Center For Medical Innovation (GCMI), A Comprehensive Innovation Center Using Innovative 3D Printing To Help Support Medical Device Shortages, Particularly As It Relates To Ventilators And Protective Masks; And $3 Million To Direct Relief, A Humanitarian Aid Organization Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) And Essential Medical Items To Health Care Workers Responding To COVID-19 In All 50 States. (Aflac, “Aflac Incorporated Donates $5 Million As Part Of Company’s Overall COVID-19 Pandemic Response,” Press Release, Accessed 4/21/20)

Alignment Healthcare Started A Crisis Meal Delivery Program, Providing Two Weeks Of Meals To Members Who Cannot Otherwise Access Food. (Alignment Healthcare, “Alignment Healthcare Mobilizes New COVID-19 Relief Programs For Members And The General Public,” Press Release, 3/26/20)

AlohaCare Is Donating $150,000 To Local Non-Profit Organizations That Are Helping At-Risk Families And Individuals Impacted By The COVID-19 Crisis. (“COVID-19 Resources To Keep You Informed & Healthy,” AlohaCare, Accessed 5/12/20)

AmeriHealth Caritas Is Focused On Improving The Health And Wellbeing Of Underserved Communities, And Is Conducting “Well-Check” Outreach To Vulnerable Members And Helping Connect Them To Their Providers And Community Resources. AmeriHealth Cartas Has Also Expanded The Delivery Of Medically Tailored And Ready-To-Eat Meals And Groceries To The Homes Of Members Who Have Been Confirmed To Have COVID-19 And To Members At Highest Risk For COVID-19 Complications. (“AmeriHealth Caritas Responds To The COVID-19 Pandemic,” AmeriHealth Caritas, Accessed 4/21/20)

Anthem Is Helping Address Food Insecurity And Other Needs For The Most Vulnerable. (Anthem, “Anthem Reaffirms Commitment To Consumers, Care Providers And Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 6/4/20)

• Anthem Is Continuing To Support The Red Cross, Direct Relief, Americares, And Feeding America, And Has Committed $50 Million For COVID-19 Response And Recovery Efforts To Help Areas Of Greatest Need, Including Care Provider Safety, Food Insecurity And Mental And Behavioral Health Resources.  The Company Is Also Matching Employee Donations To The Anthem Foundation’s Program. (Anthem, “Anthem Blue Cross Expands Access To Home Delivered Meal Program To Address The Needs Of Medi-Cal Members,” Press Release, 5/11/20)

• Anthem Is Expanding A Recently Launched Home Delivered Meal Program To Address Increased Food Insecurity And Nutritional Needs That Are Emerging Amid The COVID-19 Crisis.  Home Delivered Meals Are Now Available To Anthem Medi-Cal Members Across The State, Ensuring That Eligible Members Receive At Least One Ready-To-Eat Meal A Day, Seven Days A Week. (Anthem, “Anthem Blue Cross Expands Access To Home Delivered Meal Program To Address The Needs Of Medi-Cal Members,” Press Release, 5/11/20)

• The Anthem Foundation Has Distributed More Than $200,000 To Local Organizations Across Georgia That Are Responding To The COVID-19 Crisis, Which Is A Part Of A Nearly $2 Million Commitment Recently Made By The Foundation As Anthem Continues To Support Relief Efforts For Communities And Families Impacted By The COVID-19 Crisis.  The Foundation Has Also Made $260,000 In Grants To Ohio-Based Boys & Girls Clubs, Feeding America Organizations And The Children’s Hunger Alliance To Address Food Insecurity. (Anthem, “Anthem Foundation Funds Address Food Insecurity In Georgia Resulting From COVID-19 Pandemic,” Medium, 4/27/20)

• Anthem Donated $200,000 To United Way And Feeding America To Help Food Banks, Shelters And Other Resource Centers In California As A Part Of Its COVID-19 Relief Efforts. (Anthem, “Anthem Blue Cross Donations To Feeding America And United Way Continue Supporting COVID-19 Relief In California,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

• Anthem “Continues To Support The Red Cross, Direct Relief, Americares, And Feeding America, And Is Working To Redirect Up To $2 Million To Local Boys And Girls Clubs To Help Distribute Meals To Children And Families In Need. The Company Is Matching Employee Donations To The Anthem Foundation’s Program.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

• Anthem Is Also Contributing $1 Million To Indy Chamber Rapid Response Loan Fund To Assist Small Businesses Affected By Coronavirus Pandemic. (Anthem, “Anthem To Contribute $1 Million To Indy Chamber Rapid Response Loan Fund To Assist Small Businesses Affected By Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, Accessed 4/2/20)

Anthem’s $50 Million Commitment For COVID-19 Response And Recovery Efforts Has Included:

• $2 Million To Local Boys And Girls Clubs Supports Virtual Programming And Helps Distribute Meals To Children And Families In Need.
• $1.8 Million Supports Feeding America And Its Network Of Food Banks To Serve Neighbors In Need Across The Country.
• $1 Million Annual Disaster Giving Program Membership Enables The American Red Cross To Continue Safely Deliver Its Vital Disaster Services Nationwide As Communities Face Increasing Impacts Of COVID-19.
• $1 Million Contributed To The Newly Created Rapid Response Loan Fund Established By The Indianapolis Chamber Of Commerce To Provide Critical Funding For The Nearly 43 Thousand Small Businesses In Central Indiana.
• More Than $1.4 Million Dollars Of Personal Protective Equipment, Including Masks And Gloves, Distributed To Care Providers, Hospitals And Food Banks Across The U.S.
• $430,000 Supports Local United Way COVID-19 Community Response And Recovery Funds.
• $250,000 Helps Americares And Direct Relief Provide Medical Resources To Those Who Need It Most.
• Launched The Anthem Medical Associate Volunteer Program, Allowing Associates With Professional Medical Training To Take Paid Leave And Volunteer To Serve On The Frontline In Communities In Need.

(Anthem, “Anthem Reaffirms Commitment To Consumers, Care Providers And Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 6/4/20)

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) And The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Have Committed $3 Billion In Support Of Members, Hospitals And Health Care Workers During The COVID-19 Crisis. “The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) today announced that the network of 36 independent and locally-operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® (FEP®), have committed nearly $3 billion to date in support of members, health care workers and local communities to aid in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.” (Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, “In Support Of Local Communities, Blue Cross And Blue Shield Companies Commit Nearly $3 Billion To Members, Hospitals And Health Care Workers In The Ongoing Fight Against COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arkansas Announced That The Blue & You Foundation For A Healthier Arkansas Is Donating $500,000 In Support Of Immediate Needs Around Food Insecurity In The State And Opening The “Rapid-Response COVID Relief” Grant Process To Award Up To $1.7 Million In Grants Supporting Nonprofit Organizations That Have Experienced The Consequences Of COVID-19. (Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, “Blue & You Foundation Opens $1.7 Million COVID-19 Relief Grant Process; Provides $500,000 To Fight Food Insecurity In Arkansas,” Press Release, 4/9/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona (BCBSAZ) Contributed $10,000 To Assist The Navajo Nation In Arizona In Its Efforts To Slow The Spread Of COVID-19.  The Funds Will Help The Tribe Purchase Critical Medical Supplies That Can Help Prevent The Continued Spread Of COVID-19.  Funds Provided By BCBSAZ Will Directly Benefit The Navajo Nation’s Dikos Ntsaaígíí-19 (COVID-19) Relief Efforts To Defeat And Overcome This Crisis. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona Donates $10,000 To Navajo Nation’s Covid-19 Relief Fund,” Press Release, 6/23/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona Is Donating $80,000, Along With Phoenix Suns Charities, To Purchase 5,000 COVID-19 Antibody Test Kits For First Responders. (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, “Covid-19 Antibody Testing Starts For 5,000 Arizona First Responders,” Press Release, 4/27/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona (BCBSAZ) Announced More Than 20 Of Its Medically Qualified Employees Have Volunteered To Assist In Providing Care And Treatment To COVID-19 Patients In Health Care Facilities, And BCBSAZ Will Support Trained Health Care Specialists Who Want To Return To Practice As Physicians, Nurses And Pharmacists To Care For Those In Need. (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona Employees Volunteer To Assist With Covid-19 Patient Treatment,” Press Release, 4/17/20)

Blue Shield Of California Is Providing $300,000 In Grants To Nonprofit Organizations Providing Mental Health Supports In San Diego And Alameda Counties.  This Builds On The Company’s Multi-Year, $10 Million Investment In Youth Mental Health. (Blue California, “Blue Shield Of California Provides Additional $300,000 In Grants To Community Groups Supporting Youth Mental Health,” Press Release, 5/28/20)

• Blue Shield Of California Has Partnered With DoSomething.Org, The Largest Organization For Young People And Social Change In The Nation, To Develop A First-Of-Its-Kind Mental Health Guide To Help Youth Cope With Stress And Anxiety During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Blue Shield Of California, “Blue Shield Of California’s Bluesky Launches ‘New State Of Mind’ Digital Campaign To Support Youth Mental Health And Resilience,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

BlueCross BlueShield Of Western New York Announced That Its Blue Fund Has Made A Corporate Donation Of $900,000 To The WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund, Bringing The Blue Fund’s Total Investment To $1 Million. (BlueCross BlueShield Of Western New York, “BlueCross BlueShield Blue Fund Contributes $1M To WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund,” Press Release, 6/9/20) 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Has Selected 75 Organizations To Receive $1.5 Million In Funding As Part Of The BCBSIL COVID-19 Community Collaboration Fund, Which Supports Organizations That Are Providing Critical Services In The Areas Of Access To Health Care, Hunger And Shelter. (Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Illinois, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Illinois Distributes $1.5M To Help Illinoisans Impacted By COVID-19,” Press Release, 5/12/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Opened A $1.5 Million Funding Program To Support Community-Based Organizations With Missions Focused On Access To Health Care, Hunger And Shelter.  Its COVID-19 Community Collaboration Fund Will Release $20,000 Grants To Organizations Around The State.  The Program Is Designed To Distribute The Funds Quickly To Respond To The Current Health Crisis. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Illinois, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Illinois Launches $1.5M Grant Program To Support Illinoisans Impacted By COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/15/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Illinois Is Also Supporting Non-Profit Organizations That Serve Our Most Vulnerable Through A $1 Million Donation To Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund And $500,000 To The Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund.  It Has Also Purchased And Donated 150,000 Kn95 Masks, To Meet The Urgent Need For Personal Protective Equipment.  The Masks Were Donated To The Illinois Emergency Management Agency For Distribution To Providers Most In Need. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Illinois, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Illinois Launches $1.5M Grant Program To Support Illinoisans Impacted By COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/15/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Kansas City  Is Partnering With The Battle Within To Provide Kansas City Health Care Providers, First Responders And Military Veterans With Cost-Free Virtual Or In-Person Behavioral Healthcare Through The Frontline Therapy Network.  The Frontline Therapy Network’s Licensed Providers Are Qualified To Provide Care To The Kansas City Medical Personnel, First Responders, And Veterans On The Trauma, Stress, Discomfort, Grief, Or Other Mental Health Concerns They Are Experiencing On The Frontlines Of The COVID-19 Response. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Kansas City, “Blue KC To Provide Free Therapy For Covid-19 Healthcare Providers And First Responders,” Press Release, 5/11/20)

The Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Louisiana Foundation Has Granted More Than $4 Million To 95 Nonprofits Across The State Working To Meet The Needs Of Communities In Response To COVID-19 Since Mid-March. Efforts Supported Through Foundation Grant Funding Include:

• Providing Food To Kids, Financially Insecure Families And Seniors.
• Supporting Health Care Needs, Including Securing Critical Supplies For Providers, Connecting Individuals To Care And Mental Health Resources.
• Funding Direct Economic Support, Housing Assistance And Keeping Families Financially Stable.
• Sustaining Essential Services Disproportionately Affected By Stay-At-Home Orders, Such As Sober Housing, Services For Sexual Assault Victims And A Limited Scope Of Education-Related Services.
• Supporting Regional Groups Organizing Disaster Response In Communities Across Louisiana, And Supporting Nonprofits Through Community Relief Funds Operated By Local Community Foundations.

(Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Louisiana, “Blue Cross Foundation Awards $4.2 Million In COVID-19 Response Grants,” Press Release, 7/6/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Louisiana Has Made More Than $3.1 Million In Grants To 70 Non-Profit Organizations Since Mid-March. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Louisiana, “Blue Cross Foundation Announces Latest COVID-19 Disaster Grants,” Press Release, 5/6/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Has Distributed Its 50,000^th Meal As Part Of Its Community Meal Program In Partnership With Lovin’ Spoonfuls.  The Program, Now In Its 10th Week, Was Created To Address The Rising Rate Of Food Insecurity Across Massachusetts Due To COVID-19. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Distributes Its 50,000th Meal To Support Those Affected By COVID-19,” Press Release, 7/15/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Launched “We Are Mighty, Massachusetts,” A Campaign That Celebrates The Commonwealth’s Resiliency And Unity In The Fight Against COVID-19.(Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Unveils ‘We Are Mighty, Massachusetts’ To Salute Acts Of Kindness And Bravery In The Face Of Coronavirus,” Press Release, 4/20/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts “Donated $100,000 To The Boston Resiliency Fund And An Additional $150,000 To Relief Efforts Across Massachusetts.” And Is Reallocating More Than $1.75 Million In Community Investments And Strategic Sponsorships To Expedite Unrestricted Cash To Help Nonprofits Meet Operational Challenges. (“Health Insurance Providers Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20; Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Commits $2M To COVID-19 Community Relief,” Press Release, 4/6/20)

Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Minnesota Announced Partnerships With WellShare International And The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance Designed To Strengthen And Extend The Community Health Work Infrastructure In Minnesota Communities, Reduce Health Disparities And Bridge Cultural And Language Barriers In Efforts To Limit The Spread Of COVID-19. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Minnesota, “Blue Plus Expands Commitment To Community Health Workers,” Press Release, 5/4/20)

• The Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Minnesota Foundation Has Granted More Than $825,000 To Community Organizations Through Its COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, On Top Of Earlier Efforts That Include Contributing $100,000 To Both The Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund And The Headwaters Foundation For Justice’s Communities First Fund; $100,000 To The Coalition Of Asian-American Leaders (CAAL) As Part Of Their Anti-Racism Campaign; And $15,000 To Both The Minneapolis American Indian Center And Northpoint Health And Wellness For Their Emergency Food Shelf Efforts. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Minnesota Foundation, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Minnesota Foundation Contributes $1.1 Million To Support Communities During Covid-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/29/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Joined With North Memorial Health To Create Mask Covers Made Of Surgical Wrap Material That Can Be Worn Over N95 Masks.  One Sheet Of Wrap Can Make 24 Mask Covers, And Thousands Of Mask Covers Will Be Sewn For This Campaign. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Minnesota, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Minnesota And North Memorial Health Introduce A New Solution Of Mask Covers Made From Surgical Wrap To Protect Healthcare Workers,” Press Release, 4/14/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of New Mexico Is Contributing $1 Million To Address The Needs Of New Mexicans Impacted By The COVID-19 Crisis, And It Will Focus On Food Security, Child And Senior Care, Providers And Health Care Access. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of New Mexico, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of New Mexico Contributes $1 Million To Aid New Mexico’s COVID-19 Response,” Press Release, 4/16/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Nebraska Donated $20,000 To The Open Door Mission.  The Donation Will Support The Nonprofit In Providing Shelter And Care For Men, Women And Children Experiencing Homelessness During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Cassandra Wade, “BCBSNE Donates $20,000 To Open Door Mission,” Press Release, 4/8/20; Ally Thomson, “BCBSNE Extends Waiver Of Member Cost Shares For COVID-19 Testing And Treatment, Including Telehealth,” Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska, 6/1/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of North Carolina Announced Its Commitments To Provide Financial Support To Members, Employers, Providers And Community Organizations During The COVID-19 Crisis Will Reach Up To $593 Million – With $318 Million Dedicated To Improving Access To Care And $275 For Addressing Cash Flow Challenges Facing Members, Employers And Providers. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of North Carolina, “Blue Cross NC’s Unprecedented COVID-19 Commitment Nearly $600 Million In Support Of Members, Employers And Providers,” Press Release, 4/24/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of North Dakota Announced Its Caring Foundation Has Given $150,000 To Nonprofit Organizations Working To Address The COVID-19 Crisis.  $75,000 Will Go To The Eight United Way Agencies Across The State Of North Dakota, As Well As $75,000 To Nonprofits Dedicated To Serving Homeless Populations, Feeding Families, Providing Childcare And Offering Other Basic Needs To Individuals Most Affected By COVID-19. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of North Dakota, “BCBSND Caring Foundation Commits $150,000 To COVID-19 Response,” Press Release, 4/15/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Rhode Island Has Awarded Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Rhode Island A Grant Of $75,000.  The Funds Will Support LISC’s Neighborhood Development Fund, Which Provides Funding, Training, Resources And Technical Assistance In An Effort To Strengthen The Operations Of Community Development Corporations To Produce Affordable Housing While Addressing Broader Community Revitalization Issues. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Rhode Island, “Blue Cross & Blue Shield Of Rhode Island Supports Affordable Housing Development With $75K Grant,” Press Release, 7/21/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Rhode Island Has Awarded $500,000 To Nine Local Organizations Committed To Improving Access To Affordable Housing. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Rhode Island, “Blue Cross & Blue Shield Of Rhode Island Makes $500K Investment To Improve Access To Safe And Affordable Housing; Nine Local Agencies Receive Funding,” Press Release, 5/11/20)

BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina And Charleston County Medical Society Have Joined Together To Bring 300,000 Personal Protective Equipment Supplies To Independent Physicians In South Carolina. (BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina, “BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina And Charleston County Medical Society Join Forces To Bring 300,000 PPE Supplies To Independent Physicians In South Carolina,” Press Release, 5/1/20)

• BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina And The BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina Foundation Have Joined Together To Provide Nearly $1.6 Million To Expand Senior Resources’ Emergency Senior Nutrition Program, Which Is Giving Five Free Meals Weekly To Eligible Homebound Elderly.  The Contribution Is Anticipated To Provide 245,000 Meals. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of South Carolina, “BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina And The BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina Foundation Join Forces With Senior Resources To Combat Food Insecurity For Vulnerable Elders In South Carolina,” Press Release, 4/28/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Is Working With Community News Partners To Help Educate On And Address Health Care Disparities. (“BlueCross BlueShield Of Tennessee Response To COVID-19,” Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Tennessee, Accessed 4/17/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Tennessee Donated A Total Of $3.25 Million To Six Food Banks Across The State To Help Them Meet Increased Community Needs And Has Also Made Donations Of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) To Some Tennessee Health Systems. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Tennessee, “BlueCross To Cover Full Treatment Costs For COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/2/20)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Texas (BCBSTX)Donated $1 Million Grant To The Texas Restaurant Association’s TX Restaurant Relief Fund, Which Will Be Used To Keep Restaurant Operations Open And Employees Working, While Also Providing First Responders Across Texas With Meals To Show Appreciation For All They Are Doing During The COVID-19 Crisis.  In Addition To Providing More Than 150,000 Meals To First Responders, The BCBSTX Grant Will Provide Support To More Than 100 Independently Owned Restaurants, 670 Whataburgers And More Than 220 Chipotles Across Texas. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Texas, “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas Funds $1 Million Grant To TX Restaurant Relief Fund,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Texas Made A $1 Million Donation To The Communities Foundation Of Texas To Help With COVID-19 Relief Efforts, Which Will Support Nonprofits Statewide Who Are Providing Critical Services Such As: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) For First Responders, Childcare For First Responders And Health Care Professionals And Services For Senior Adults, Including Meal And Grocery Delivery. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Texas, “Communities Foundation Of Texas Receives $1 Million Donation From Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas To Aid COVID-19 Relief Efforts Across Texas,” Press Release, 4/17/20)

Blue Shield Of California Is Donating $500,000 To The Oakland COVID-19 Relief Fund To Support Pop-Up Coronavirus Testing Sites And Other Community Initiatives, Providing $100,000 Support To Medshare, A San Francisco Bay Area Nonprofit Organization That Provides Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) To Nonprofit Community Healthcare Providers And Providing Up To $200 Million In Direct Support To Health Care Providers And Hospitals Through Financing Guarantees, Advance Payments, And Restructuring Of Contracts. (Blue Shield of California, “Blue Shield Of California Will Help Reduce Costs For Members During The COVID-19 Crisis,” Press Release, 4/1/20; Blue Shield of California, “Blue Shield Of California Offers Financial Support To Healthcare Providers In Response To COVID-19 Crisis,” Press Release, 4/6/20)

BlueCross BlueShield Of Western New York Is Sending Healthy Snack-Packs And Meals From Local Companies, Buffalo Strive And Jakes Cafe, To 1,500 Western New York Residents, On Behalf Of Their 1,500 Employees – A Symbolic Effort To Support The Dedicated Individuals Who Are On The Frontlines Serving Our Community During The COVID-19 Crisis. (BlueCross BlueShield Of Western New York, “BlueCross BlueShield Fuels The Frontline During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/27/20) 

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Western New York Donated $100,000 To The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund To Address The Most Critical And Immediate Community Needs Related To The Coronavirus, As Well As Other Efforts. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Western New York, “Statement From BlueCross BlueShield Of WNY President And CEO Dave Anderson,” Press Release, 4/2/20) 

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Wyoming Has Donated $100,000 To Support Local Anti-Hunger Programs Throughout The State. (Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Wyoming, “Blue Cross Blue Shield Announces Donation To Support The Wyoming Hunger Initiative,” Press Release, 4/28/20)

Cambia Has Invested More Than $3 Million To Meet Emerging Needs Created By The COVID-19 Crisis.  The Investments Will Go To Four Community Health Associations That Support The Work Of Federally Qualified Health Centers Across Idaho, Oregon, Utah, And Washington.  The New Funding Also Supports The Development Of Tools And Resources For Health Care Providers On The Front Lines Of The Crisis.  (Cambia Health Foundation, “Cambia Health Foundation Commits $3 Million To Address COVID-19 Immediate Impacts,” Press Release, 5/5/20)

Capital Blue Is Increasing Funding To Food Banks And Other Community Organizations In Pennsylvania – As Well As Providing Meals To Health Care Workers, First Responders, And Nursing Home Staff And Residents –To Help Communities And Front Line Workers During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Capital Blue, “Capital BlueCross Increases Food Aid During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan Will Continue Its Support For Local Not-For-Profit Organizations And Communities Hit Hard By The Effects Of The COVID-19 Crisis By Extending Weekly Lunch Deliveries.  Over The Last Month, CDPHP Was Able To Distribute 2,000 Lunches To Those In Need. (Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, “CDPHP Extends Important Meal Deliveries As COVID-19 Crisis Continues,” Press Release, 7/8/20)

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) Has Invested $1 Million In The Distribution Of Care Packages Including Masks, Hand Sanitizer And No-Touch Tools For High-Risk Members In Maryland, The District Of Columbia And Northern Virginia.  This Initiative Is One Of Several Actions Carefirst Is Taking To Provide Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis Relief To The Communities It Serves. (CareFirst, “CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield To Provide Care Packages To Vulnerable Members During Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, 8/25/20)

• CareFirst’s Combined Provider-Focused Efforts Will Result In Over $170 Million In Direct Support Of The Healthcare Delivery System During The Pandemic. (CareFirst, “CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Accelerates Over $170 Million In Payments And Support To Healthcare Providers In Response To Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/10/20)

CareOregon Is Expediting Approvals For Temporary Housing Support For Members Suspected To Have COVID-19, Including Helping Secure Hotel/Motel Stays For Houseless Members Who Are At Risk For Transmission.  (“Coronavirus (COVID-19) Member Information,” CareOregon, Accessed 5/6/20)

• Care Oregon Is Reallocating $1 Million Of Funding Through Its Community Giving Grant Program To Assist Local Organizations And Help Them Continue To Offer Food Security, Shelter And Rental Assistance To Our Communities. (Care Oregon, “Letter To The Community From Eric C. Hunter, President And Chief Executive Officer Of CareOregon,” Press Release, 4/10/20)

CareSource Is “Committing Up To $128,000 To Allow The Foodbank To Prepare 1,200 Supplemental Food Boxes To Distribute To Seniors Who Live With An Income Below 200% Of The Poverty Line.  Each Home Will Be Provided With A 14-Day Supply Of Food, Covering Three Meals Per Day For A Total Of 50,400 Meals.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

CenCal Health Is Delivering 100,000 Disposable Face Masks, 100,000 Disposable Gloves And 20,000 Protective Gowns In Order To Protect And Support Local Health Care Workers During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (CenCal Health, “CenCal Health Procures PPE For Central Coast Hospitals, Clinics,” Press Release, 4/27/20)

Centene Has Convened A Group Of Medical, Non-Profit And Community Leaders To Form The Centene Health Disparities Task Force, Which Will Further Enhance Centene’s Leadership And Commitment To Ensuring Underserved Populations Have Access To Quality Health Care. (Centene Corporation, “Centene Announces Health Disparities Task Force,” Press Release, 5/18/20)

Centene Is Making Investments To Support Communities That Are Experiencing Elevated Levels Of Stress And Mental Strain Caused By An Increase In Grief, Loss, Economic Pressure, Unemployment And Social Isolation Due To The COVID-19 Crisis.

• Partnering With Allegheny Health Network And The CARES Institute At Rowan University To Fund 25 Virtual Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Training Cohorts.
• Directing Funds To The Crisis Text Line To Support Their ‘For The Frontlines’ Initiative.
• Partnering With Peer Warmlines, Which Are Dedicated Call Centers For Mild To Moderate Behavioral Health Needs, In States Hardest Hit By COVID-19, Including California, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Illinois And Florida.  As Part Of This Partnership, Centene Will Allocate Funds To Assist Warmlines In Meeting The Demand For Increased Capacity Brought On By The COVID-19 Crisis.
• Donating To The National Council For Behavioral Health’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, Specifically For The Provision Of Mental Health First Aid. 

(Centene Corporation, “Centene To Invest In Critical Mental Health Resources,” Press Release, 5/4/20)

Centene Corporation Is Supporting The Disability Community Affected By The COVID-19 Pandemic By:

• Establishing An Emergency Registry For Members With Long-Term Services And Supports.
• Establishing Onsite Disability Liaisons At COVID-19 Super Sites.
• Addressing Social Determinants Of Health To Support The Unique Needs Of Members With Disabilities By:
  • Augmenting Service Coordination Activities Through Peer Supports And Skills Training For Members With Disabilities.
  • Providing Grants To Area Agencies On Aging For Groceries And Meal Deliveries For Members With Disabilities Who Have Had A Disruption Of Natural Supports.
  • Matching Funds In Partnership With Organizations, Such As, Workforce Development Boards And Other Safety Net Organizations, To Train The Direct Care Workforce And Support Unemployed Individuals By Preparing Them For A Career In Health Care.
  • Offering Access To The Provider Accessibility Initiative COVID-19 Web Series To Provide Timely Recommendations From Experts With Disabilities On How Providers And Organizations Can Deliver Disability-Competent Care During The Pandemic And Future Emergencies.

(Centene Corporation, “Centene To Offer Resources For The Disability Community Affected By COVID-19; Company Expands Support To Safety Net Organizations,” Press Release, 4/16/20)

Centene Is Donating $500,000 To The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Which Aims To Support And Advocate For Those Affected By Domestic Abuse. (Centene Corporation, “Centene Donates $500,000 To National Domestic Violence Hotline,” Press Release, 5/26/20)

Centene Corporation Is Partnering With Feeding America’s Network Of Food Banks To Donate 1 Million Meals A Month For 12 Months To Feed Communities All Over The Country And Purchasing 50,000 Gift Cards For Use On Essential Items. (Centene Corporation, “Centene Announces New Community Investments To Address Social Determinants Of Health,” Press Release, 4/13/20)

• Centene Corporation Is Also Creating A Medical Reserve Leave Policy To Support Clinical Staff Who Want To Join A Medical Reserve Force And Serve Their Communities During The COVID-19 Pandemic.  The New Policy Will Provide Paid Leave And Benefits For Up To 3 Months Of Volunteer Service. (Centene Corporation, “Centene Announces New Benefits For Employees During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/6/20)

The Cigna Foundation Is Inviting Nonprofits Working To Create Greater Access To Mental Health Services To Apply For Funding Through Its Healthier Kids For Our FutureSM Grant Program.  The Program Will Provide Up To A Total Of $5 Million In Grants To Community Organizations Over The Next Year. (Cigna, “Cigna Foundation Announces Availability Of $5 Million In Grants To Address Children’s Mental Health, Childhood Hunger,” Press Release, 6/15/20; Staff, “Cigna Dental Is Helping Employers Through COVID-19 Challenges,” Cigna, Accessed 6/17/20)

• The Cigna Foundation And New York Life Foundation Launched The Brave Of Heart Fund To Provide Grants To The Families Of Frontline Health Care Workers Who Lost Their Lives In The Fight Against COVID-19 With The Goal To Raise More Than $100 Million. (Cigna, “Cigna Foundation And New York Life Foundation Partner To Launch Brave Of Heart Fund To Support The Families Of Front-Line Healthcare Workers Who Give Their Lives In The Covid-19 Fight,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

• Cigna Is Providing Medications To Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis To Initiate A Clinical Trial That Will Evaluate Antimalarial And Antibiotic Treatments For COVID-19 And Launching A Pilot Program To Increase Social Connectivity Among Its Medicare Advantage (MA) Customers During The COVID-19 Pandemic. (Cigna, “Cigna Helps Accelerate Research For A Covid-19 Treatment By Donating Medications To Washington University School Of Medicine’s Clinical Trial, Press Release, 4/9/20; Cigna, “Cigna Takes Action To Support Social Connections For Seniors During Covid-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/13/20)

CVS Health Is Increasing Access To Critical Mental Health Services For Front Line Workers Impacted By COVID-19 With Over $1 Million In Charitable Support. (CVS Health, “CVS Health Commits To Flattening The Second Curve Of The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 5/4/20)

• CVS Health Is Re-Purposing A Portion Of Its 3-Year, $40 Million Commitment To Invest In California’s Health Care Delivery System, And Nearly $1.5 Million In Grants Will Immediately Help Four Local Nonprofit Organizations Expand Access To Telehealth Services, Address Food Insecurity Among California’s Most Vulnerable Populations, And Support The State’s Paramedics And EMTs. (CVS Health, “CVS Health Supports COVID-19 Relief Efforts With Nearly $1.5 Million In Grants To California Nonprofits,” Press Release, 4/30/20)

• CVS Health Is “Offering Several Programs To Help People Address Associated Anxiety And Stress.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

DaVita, Fresenius Partner To Create Network Of COVID-19 Dialysis Clinics. “The country’s largest dialysis providers are joining forces to protect some of the most vulnerable patients during the coronavirus pandemic.  Dialysis clinic operators Fresenius Medical Care and DaVita, along with several other kidney care organizations, said they are working together to create and share a nationwide network of clinics that will focus on serving patients with COVID-19.” (Shelby Livingston, “DaVita, Fresenius Partner To Create Network Of COVID-19 Dialysis Clinics,” Modern Healthcare, 4/1/20)

Delta Dental of Arizona Is Donating $500,000 To The 23 Federally Qualified Health Centers Across The State. (Dental, “Delta Dental Of Arizona Providing $500,000 COVID-19 Aid To Arizona’s Federally Qualified Health Centers,” Press Release, 4/23/20)

Delta Dental Of Arkansas Is Providing Financial Assistance To Its Business Clients And Network Dentists As Arkansans Continue To Feel The Impact Of COVID-19 On Their Businesses.  The COVID-19 Relief Credit Gives A Credit In The Amount Equal To 100% Of The Monthly Premium Billed To Delta Dental’s Commercial Business Clients With Dental And/Or Vision Insurance.  This Premium “Holiday” Amounts To Almost $15 Million In Credits To Over 4,000 Arkansas Business Clients. (Delta Dental of Arkansas, “Delta Dental Of Arkansas To Provide Nearly $18 Million In COVID-19 Relief To Business Clients And Dental Providers In Arkansas,” Press Release, 5/13/20)

• Delta Dental of Arkansas Has Committed A Total Of $6.5 Million In Emergency Financial Assistance To Dental Practices In Arkansas Who Are Limited To Providing Only Emergency Services During The COVID-19 Crisis, And  Offering A Total Of $500,000 In Grants To Community Organizations For Projects Directly Related To COVID-19. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Arkansas Provides Financial Assistance To Arkansas Dental Practices And Qualifying Non-Profits Amid COVID-19 Crisis,” Press Release, 3/31/20)

Delta Dental Of California Announced The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation Is Providing $2 Million In Funding For Organizations — Including Medical Clinics And Community Service Organizations — In New York State To Help Vulnerable Populations Affected By The COVID-19 Crisis. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Community Care Foundation Pledges $2 Million In Funding To Support New York State Organizations Responding To Covid-19,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

• Delta Dental of California Is Establishing A $200 Million Loan Program To Provide Economic Assistance And Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Relief For Its Independent Provider Network Across 15 States And The District Of Columbia.  As Part Of This Aid, Delta Dental’s Co-Sponsored Loan Program Will Include Interest Subsidies, Principal Deferment And Enable Providers To Refinance Other Business Loans And Get Working Capital. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of California Announces $200 Million COVID-19-Related Financial Aid Program To Support Its Independent Network Providers,” Press Release, 4/15/20)

Delta Dental Of California Announced That Delta Dental Community Care Foundation Is Making $5 Million In Funding Available To Organizations Across Its 15-State Service Area That Are At The Forefront Of Helping The Communities Most Impacted By COVID-19. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Community Care Foundation Announces $5 Million In Funding For COVID-19 Response,” Press Release, 3/24/20)

Delta Dental Of Colorado And The Delta Dental Of Colorado Foundation, Have Collectively Committed $30 Million In The Form Of Billing And Premium Credits, Loans, Relief Funds And Grants To Customers, Oral Health Care Providers And Local Community Organizations. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Colorado Announces COVID-19 Relief Response,” Press Release, 5/15/20)

Delta Dental Of Illinois Announced That The Delta Dental Of Illinois Foundation Has Provided $1.5 Million To Help Ensure Illinoisans Continue To Receive Vital Health Services During The COVID-19 Crisis.  The Foundation Has Provided $500,000 To Support The Illinois State Dental Society Foundation And Is Also Launching A $1 Million Emergency Grants Program To Federally Qualified Health Centers In Illinois. (Delta Illinois, “Delta Dental Of Illinois Foundation To Give $1.5 Million To Support Community During COVID-19 Health Crisis,” Press Release, 4/6/20)

Delta Dental Of Iowa And The Delta Dental Of Iowa Foundation “Have Committed $10.5 Million In Grants To COVID-19 Relief Programs To Help Iowa Dentists And Nonprofits.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

Delta Dental of Massachusetts Made Three Contributions Totaling $200,000 To Support Massachusetts Non-Profits In Their Response To Community Needs During The COVID-19 Outbreak. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Massachusetts Contributions To Boston, Worcester And Pioneer Valley Nonprofits Strengthen COVID-19 Community Responses,” Press Release, 4/8/20)

Delta Dental Of Missouri Is Donating $500,000 To Organizations Providing COVID-19 Relief Efforts In Missouri, And In South Carolina, Where The Company Does Business As Delta Dental Of South Carolina. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Missouri Donates $500,000 To Organizations Providing Covid-19 Relief Efforts,” Press Release, 4/1/20)

Delta Dental Of Tennessee Made A $50,000 Commitment To Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts Across Tennessee Through The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command And Second Harvest Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee.  The Nonprofits Will Receive $25,000 Each To Distribute Across The State Based On Need. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Tennessee Gifts $50,000 To Support Statewide COVID-19 Relief Efforts,” Press Release, 5/4/20)

• Delta Dental Of Tennessee Announced A Commitment Of More Than $3.3 Million For Operation #SmilesMatter, A Grant Program To Help Tennessee Dentists Acquire Much-Needed Supplies, Equipment And Technology As They Prepare To Reopen Their Practices Following COVID-19-Related Closures.  Delta Dental Will Be Funding A $1,000 “Allowance” Or Credit Available To All Dentists In Tennessee, Regardless Of Whether They Participate In Delta Dental’s Network, To Purchase Dental Products. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Tennessee Gifts $50,000 To Support Statewide COVID-19 Relief Efforts,” Press Release, 5/4/20)

Delta Dental of Virginia Made A $1 Million Contribution To Support Virginia’s Dental Practices And Their Patients, Provide Financial Assistance For Safety Net Dental Clinics, And Support Local Non-Profits Working To Meet Needs In Their Communities. (Delta Dental, “Delta Dental Of Virginia Prioritizes Smiles With $1M Statewide Contribution To Support Virginians Impacted By COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/8/20)

Delta Dental Of Wisconsin Announced That The Delta Dental Of Wisconsin Foundation Has Provided $800,000 In Grants To Safety-Net Clinics In Wisconsin As Well As An Additional $100,000 For Food Security Programs. (Delta Dental, “Dental Offices Ready To Welcome Back Patients In Wisconsin: What To Expect When You Return To Dental Chairs,” Press Release, 5/26/20)

EmblemHealth Is Supporting The Local Food Banks It Partners With Through Neighborhood Care Through Donations And Has Amended Its Paid Time Off Policy For Clinically Trained Qualified Employees To Answer The State’s Call To Serve. (“Coronavirus [COVID-19] Frequently Asked Questions,” EmblemHealth, Accessed 4/9/20)

The Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation Has Committed More Than $200,000 To Organizations To Fight Food Insecurity In New York.  Of The $200,000, Empire Has Made Contributions Of $50,000 Each To City Harvest And Food Bank For New York City, Which Will Support Local Families During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Empire BlueCross BlueShield, “Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation Commits Funding To Combat Food Insecurity As New Yorkers Continue To Confront COVID-19 Crisis,” Press Release, 4/29/20)

Florida Blue Is More Than Tripling Its COVID-19 Community Investments To Over $7 Million:

• Invest An Additional $2.5 Million To Provide Access To Testing And Health Care, Food Security And Other Essential Needs For Floridians. 
• Contribute More Than $2.6 Million To United Way Organizations Across Florida. 
• Dedicate More Than $1 Million Of The Additional Funding To Providing COVID-19 Testing And Access To Health Care For Underserved Floridians. 

• Give A Three-Year Grant Of $220,000 To UF Health To Help Provide Necessary Technology For The Development Of A Model For COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests Called Pooled Testing. 
• Utilize Over $1.3 Million To Help Address Food Security For Seniors, Children And Disadvantaged Families, Support The Mental Health Of Those Impacted By The COVID-19 Crisis And Provide Essential Needs To Those Struggling Due To The Crisis.

(Florida Blue, “Florida Blue Triples COVID-19 Community Investments To Over $7 Million,” Press Release, 6/12/20)

Gateway Health Is Committing More Than $1 Million To Support Non-Profit Organizations, Community Partners And Social Determinants Of Health Causes In 2020.  Gateway Health’s Donation To These Efforts Will Assist Communities Across Pennsylvania.  They Will Be Able To Expand Access To Much-Needed Heathy Food Options In Light Of The Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis.  The Donation Also Supports Ongoing Nutrition Education And Resources In These Areas.(Gateway Health, “Gateway Health Plan Debuts It’s Wholecare Brand Platform, Plans To Donate More Than $1 Million To Address Social Determinants Of Health,” Press Release, 6/4/20)

Geisinger “Partnered With The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg, And Weinberg Northeast Food Bank, Pittston, To Distribute Emergency Food Boxes To Health Plan Members, Patients And Those In Need In The Community.” “These boxes are being delivered from Geisinger’s Fresh Food Farmacy locations and include shelf stable supplies, recipes, educational information and other resources.  Geisinger is targeting food insecure health plan members, however, any patient or community member in need is eligible.  To ensure the safety of the community and prevent potential exposure to COVID-19, staff will be doing curbside or front porch deliveries.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

Gold Coast Health Plan Awarded $20,500 In Sponsorships To Seven Community Organizations That Are Helping County Residents During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Susana Enriquez-Euyoque, “Gold Coast Health Plan Awards More Than $20,000 In Sponsorships To Ventura County Organizations,” Gold Coast Health Plan, 7/2/20)

Harvard Pilgrim Is Providing $3 Million To Community Health Centers, Focusing On Those Providing Care To Predominately Black And Brown Communities, As Well As Centers That Provide Care For Vulnerable Populations, To Support Equity And Equality In Accessing Health Care And Address Health Disparities. (Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, “Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Announces $32 Million In Premium Credits To Employer Groups And Medicare Supplement Members,” Press Release, 6/18/20)

• Harvard Pilgrim “Donated Over $3 Million To COVID-19 Relief Efforts By Supporting Community Organizations In Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, And New Hampshire.  The Money Will Help Select Restaurants Throughout The Region To Provide And Deliver Take-Out Meals To Families In Need And Help To Put People Back To Work.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

Health Alliance Plan (HAP) Is Conducting Personalized Outreach To Its Most Vulnerable Members, Many Of Whom Are Medicare Advantage Members.  During April And May, HAP Conducted More Than 8,500 Phone Calls To Its Members To Determine If They Are In Need Of Food Or Other Services.  For Those In Need Of Mental Health Support, HAP Has Provided Access To Behavioral Health Resources.  For Medicare Members Who Lack Access To Nutritious Meals, HAP Has Expanded Its Partnership With Mom’s Meals To Have Two Weeks’ Worth Of Frozen, Ready-To-Heat Balanced Meals Delivered To Their Home.  (Health Alliance Plan, “HAP Offers Enhanced Medicare Advantage Benefits During COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period,” Press Release, 6/11/20)

Health Care Services Corporation Launched The Employed Clinician Volunteer Program For More Than 3,000 Employees, Who Are Medical Clinicians, Providing Them The Opportunity To Volunteer For Patient Care In Their Field For Up To 80 Hours Of Paid Time During Their Regular Scheduled Work Hours. (Health Care Services Corporation, “HCSC Supporting Provider And Hospital Partners On Front Lines Of The COVID-19 Outbreak,” Press Release, 4/20/20)

Health Net Is Providing $5.9 Million In Immediate Assistance To Support Medi-Cal Providers Impacted By The Outbreak Of The Novel Coronavirus. (Health Net, “Health Net Rolls Out $5.9 Million In COVID-19 Assistance For Those Serving Medi-Cal Members,” Press Release, 4/2/20)

Highmark Is Partnering With Four Small And Diverse Pittsburgh-Based Businesses To Design, Manufacture And Donate Over 1 Million Cloth Face Coverings Throughout The Summer Months.  The Face Coverings Will Be Distributed To At-Risk And Vulnerable Highmark Members, Community Organizations In Need, Health Care Professionals And Employer Groups Across Pennsylvania, Delaware And West Virginia. (Highmark, “Highmark Mobilizes Pittsburgh Businesses To Produce Over 1 Million Face Coverings For Members And Community,” Press Release, 6/10/20)

Horizon Health Launched Horizon Neighbors In Health, A Comprehensive Program To Address Social Determinants Of Health.  It Is Investing $25 Million And Partnering With Some Of New Jersey’s Most Respected Health Organizations Over The Next 3 Years On A Model That Employs Local Community Health Workers To Connect Members With A Wide Array Of Services That Make Good Health More Possible. (Horizon, “Horizon Teams Up With Leading Health Groups To Tackle Social Barriers To Health,” Press Release, 6/2/20)

• Horizon Health Donated $2 Million To The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, The Response And Support Organization Established By Tammy Murphy, The State’s First Lady.  With The Donation, Horizon Has Contributed $4.35 Million For Protective Equipment For Health Care Workers, Food  And Social Services In Response To The COVID-19 Outbreak.  Horizon Has Also Expanded Paid-Time-Off For Volunteer Service To Provide Those Employees Answering New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Health Care Professionals Call To Serve With 40 Hours Of Compensated Volunteer Time.  72 Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, And Clinicians From Horizon Have Volunteered And Are Awaiting Deployment. (Horizon, “New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund Efforts Get $2 Million Boost From Horizon,” Press Release, 4/13/20)

• Horizon Health Is Spending $2.35 Million To Donate 500,000 N95 Respirator Masks And 81,000 Face Shields To Governor Murphy’s Coordinated Response Effort. (Horizon, “Horizon Members Will Incur No Costs For Treatment Of COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/3/20)

Humana Partnered With Several Of Ohio’s Leading Community Service Organizations To Address Social Factors That Can Significantly Impact Individual And Community Health, Including Food Insecurity And Housing Insecurity. These Latest Community Investments Total Nearly $500,000 And Build On An Earlier Humana Initiative To Provide More Than $1.6 Million In COVID-19 Relief And Recovery Assistance In Ohio. (Staff, “Humana Partners with Leading Ohio Nonprofits to Address Food Insecurity and Housing,” Press Release, 1/8/21)

Humana Has Delivered More Than $1.6 Million In Financial Grants In Ohio For COVID-19 Relief And Economic Recovery Efforts. (Humana, “Humana Delivers COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Assistance to Community Service Organizations in Ohio,” Press Release, 11/12/20)

The Humana Foundation, Philanthropic Arm Of Humana Inc., Announced It Will Deploy $50 Million In Immediate Short-Term And Long-Term Relief And Partner With National And Community Service Organizations To Help Those Disproportionately Impacted By The COVID-19 Health Crisis.  The Commitment, The Largest In The Foundation’s 38-Year History, Will Be Split Between Organizations That Support Essential Workers, Food Security, Behavioral Health And Community-Based Organizations. (Humana Foundation, “Humana Foundation Commits $50M To Coronavirus Relief And Recovery Efforts,” Press Release, 4/30/20)

• Humana Is Awarding $2.2 Million To Nonprofit Organizations In Louisville As Part Of Its Ongoing Community Partners Program.  The Initiative Began In 2018 And Has Since Awarded More Than $6 Million To Local Nonprofits Addressing Social Determinants Of Health And Creating Greater Health Equity In Humana’s Corporate Hometown. (Humana, “Louisville Nonprofits Receive $2.2 Million Through Humana Foundation’s Community Partners Program,” Press Release, 5/30/20)

• Humana Is Providing Financial And Administrative Relief For The Health Care Provider Community Facing Unprecedented Strain During The Coronavirus Pandemic. (Humana, “Humana Announces Health Care Provider Initiative To Help Ease Financial And Administrative Stress During Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/2/20)

Independence Blue Cross Developed A New Initiative Called “Calls Of Kindness.”  The Initiative Involves Independence Employee Volunteers Making Proactive Check-In Calls To Medicare Members.  The Purpose Of The Calls Is To Give Comfort And Support To Those Who Need It During The COVID-19 Crisis.  So Far Volunteers Have Made “Calls Of Kindness” To More Than 2,000 Medicare Members. (Independence Blue Cross, “Independence Blue Cross Stays Connected With Seniors During COVID-19 Pandemic Through ‘Calls Of Kindness,’” Press Release, 5/26/20)

• Independence Blue Cross Is “Supporting The New PHL COVID-19 Fund, Which Will Provide Grants To Greater Philadelphia Nonprofit Organizations That Serve Vulnerable Populations.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

Inland Empire Health Plan Has Sourced And Donated More Than 221,000 Units Of Personal Protective Equipment Supplies To Local Government Agencies, Medical Societies, Associations And Hospitals In Riverside And San Bernardino Counties During The COVID-19 Pandemic. (“Uninsured Inland Empire Residents Receive 24/7 Access To COVID-19 Medical Advice,” Press Release, 5/7/20)

Kaiser Permanente Is Committing $63 Million To Support California’s Contact-Tracing Work In Order To Reduce The Number Of Californians Who Contract COVID-19. (Kaiser Permanente, “Kaiser Permanente Commits $63M To Support Contact Tracing,” Press Release, 8/10/20)

• Kaiser Permanente Is Donating $1 Million To Public Health Organizations Collaborating With The CDC Foundation On The COVID-19 Response. (Kaiser Permanente, “Supporting Public Health Response To COVID-19,” Press Release, 3/11/20)

• Kaiser Permanente Also Announced That Futuro Health, A California-Based Nonprofit Established By Kaiser Permanente And The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) To Address The Nation’s Allied Health Worker Shortage, Has Expanded Its Education Offerings To Prepare Front-Line Health Care Workers For An Expected Surge In COVID-19 Cases, Committing $1 Million To Launch A New Pandemic-Readiness Program. (Kaiser Permanente, “Pandemic-Readiness Training For LVNs/LPNs For COVID-19 Surge,” Press Release, 4/8/20)

L.A. Health Care Plan Committed Grant Funding Of Up To $550,000 To Project Angel Food.  Project Angel Food Provides Medically Tailored Meals And Nutritional Counselling To 2,000 Low-Income Individuals In Los Angeles County Affected By Life Threatening Illnesses Each Week.  For A Year, These Clients Will Receive Medically Tailored Meals Based Upon Their Personal Health Conditions. (L.A. Care, “L.A. Care Health Plan Commits Up To $550,000 To Reduce Project Angel Food Waiting List,” Press Release, 6/15/20)

L.A. Health Care Plan Has Awarded Nearly $1.5 Million To 10 Grantees Through The Robert E. Tranquada, MD Safety Net Initiative XI.  Health Care Centers And Community Clinics Across Los Angeles County Will Receive Between $100,000 And $150,000 To Conduct Projects That Will Primarily Help Communities Of Color, Which Have Been Harder Hit By COVID-19. (L.A. Care, “L.A. Care Commits Nearly $1.5 Million To Improve Health Outcomes In Vulnerable Communities During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 6/10/20)

• L.A. Health Care Plan Will Be Accelerating More Than $7 Million In Grant Payments To 138 Clinics And Community-Based Organizations, As Well As Committing More Than $6 Million In Targeted Grant Support For Vulnerable Americans, Including Some Who Are Experiencing Homelessness. (L.A. Health Care Plan, “L.A. Care Commits Nearly $70 Million To Frontline Health Care Providers During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/16/20)

• Magellan Health Opened A Free National 24-Hour Crisis Line For All First Responders And Health Care Workers Who Are Serving On The Front Lines Battling The Coronavirus Pandemic. (Magellan Health, “Magellan Health Opens Free Crisis Hotline To Support First Responders And Healthcare Workers Responding To COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/10/20)

Magnolia Health Is Partnering With The Mississippi Department Of Child Protective Services To Provide Health Care Workers With The Items They Need.  (Magnolia Health, “Magnolia Health Provides PPE To Mississippi Department Of Child Protective Services,” Press Release, 5/22/20)

Medica Health Plan Is Distributing More Than 200,000 Disposable Protective Masks To Members Who Are At The Greatest Risk For Experiencing Complications Related To COVID-19.  Medica Is Also Donating An Additional 150,000 Masks And Other Personal Protection Equipment To Community Organizations And Its Skilled Nursing Partners. (Medica Health Plan, “As COVID-19 Response Shifts, Medica Extends Commitment To Members, Community Partners And Long-Term Care Partners,” Press Release, 5/22/20)

• Medica Health Plan Is Donating $200,000 To Nine Nebraska Non-Profit Organizations And Community Health Centers That Play Important Roles In Addressing The Needs Of The Most Vulnerable People In Communities Statewide, Especially During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Medica, “Medica Donates $200,000 To Nebraska Non-Profits To Meet Emergency Needs From The Coronavirus,” Press Release, 4/29/20)

• Medica Health Plan Is Donating $1 Million To Minnesota Non-Profits To Meet Emergency Needs From COVID-19. (“Coverage Changes,” Medica, Accessed 3/19/20; Medica, “Medica Donates $1 Million To Minnesota Non-Profits To Meet Emergency Needs From The Coronavirus,” Press Release, 3/25/20)

MeridianHealth Has Donated More Than 130,000 Units Of Personal Protective Equipment To Help Protect Michigan’s First Responders And Essential Workers On The Front Lines Of The COVID-19 Crisis.(MeridianHealth, “Meridian Donates PPE To Help Michigan First Responders And Frontline Workers Stay Safe Amid COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 5/5/20)

• MeridianHealth Identified Four Organizations Serving As Either Federally Qualified Health Centers And/Or Community Mental Health Centers To Receive $500,000 In Total Funding To Continue Their Work During The COVID-19 Crisis, And Recently Donated 100,000 Protective Masks To The Westside Homeless COVID-19 Response Workgroup. (MeridianHealth, “Meridian To Help Populations Disproportionately Impacted By COVID-19 In Illinois,” Press Release, 4/23/20)

MetroPlus Health Plan Started A New Food And Safety Member Care Package Initiative That Will Soon Reach 10,000 Of Its Members Determined To Be Especially In Need.  The Care Packages Contain Non-Perishable Foods And Items Like Hand Sanitizer And Face Masks. (MetroPlus Health Plan, “MetroPlus Health Plan, Responding To COVID-19 Crisis, Announces Enhanced Online Websites, Radically Improving Engagement For Nearly 545,000 Members And More Than 23,000 Of The Plan’s Providers,” Press Release, 5/8/20)

MHS Health Wisconsin Donated $45,000 To Food Banks In Milwaukee, Eastern Wisconsin And Western Wisconsin.  Also, MHS Health Is Partnering With Feeding America And Centene To Coordinate A Donation Of 1 Million Meals A Month For The Next 12 Months To Feed Americans In Wisconsin And Across The Country.  MHS Is Also Coordinating With Centene To Purchase 500 Gift Cards For Use On Essential Items.  (MHS Health Wisconsin, “MHS Health Wisconsin Supports Community Needs During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 5/19/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Illinois Has Donated $40,500 To An Array Of Community-Based Organizations Across The State, Which Will Help Nonprofits Provide Hygiene Essentials, Food, Financial Support And Other Resources To Help Vulnerable Communities During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Molina Healthcare, “Molina Healthcare Of Illinois Gives Over $40,000 To Local Nonprofits Across The State To Support Families During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Mississippi Is Committing Nearly $50,000 For The Purchase Of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) To Help Protect Health Care Professionals And Those In Need During The COVID-19 Crisis.  Molina Is Donating More Than 17,000 3-Ply Masks, 4,000 N95 Masks And 7,000 Nitrile Medical Gloves, Which Will Support Small Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics And Larger Health Systems. (Molina Healthcare, “Molina Healthcare Of Mississippi Announces Nearly $50,000 Commitment To Fund Purchase Of Personal Protective Equipment,” Press Release, 4/23/20)

Molina Healthcare Of New Mexico Is Donating A Relief Package That Includes Medical Supplies For Families, Indian Health Services, And 638 Facilities Across The Navajo Nation That Are Experiencing Hardships As A Result Of The Coronavirus Pandemic. (Molina Healthcare, “Molina Healthcare Of New Mexico Offers Support To The Navajo Nation During Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, 3/31/20)

Molina Healthcare Of New York Is Donating Over $38,000 To Community-Based Organizations That Are Providing Support And Essentials During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Molina Healthcare, “Molina Healthcare Of New York Helps Area Nonprofits Replenish Resources And Services,” Press Release, 4/27/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Committed Over $1.5 Million To Support Innovative Programs Across The State.  The Molina Community Innovation Fund Will Provide Grants And Sponsorships To Various Partners Launching Innovative Programs Designed To Increase Access To Care, Provide Unique Approaches To Reinforce Health And Wellness And Support Integrated Care Services.  The Funding Also Supports Organizations Helping To Fill Community Needs Around Social Determinants Of Health.  Through Molina’s Efforts With Partner Organizations, Ohioans Will Be Provided With Additional Access To Resources That Support Their Physical And Behavioral Health Amid The COVID-19 Crisis. (Molina Healthcare Of Ohio, “Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Commits $1.5 Million To Advance The Health Of Ohioans Through Its 2020 Community Innovation Fund,” Press Release, 5/7/20)

• Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Partnered With The Make-A-Day Foundation And Former Ohio State University Football Coach Urban Meyer To Provide 20,000 Nutritious Meals To Ohioans Experiencing Homelessness Or Financial Distress During The COVID-19 Crisis. (Molina Healthcare Of Ohio, “Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Partners With Make-A-Day Foundation And Urban Meyer To Serve 20,000 Meals To Ohioans Experiencing Homelessness Or Financial Distress During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/22/20)

• Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Is Committing $150,000 For The Purchase Of Personal Protective Equipment, COVID-19 Test Kits, And Other Needed Essentials To Help Protect Providers, Health Care Professionals, And Those In Need During The Coronavirus Pandemic. (Molina Healthcare Of Ohio, “Molina Healthcare Of Ohio Announces $150,000 Commitment To Fund Purchase Of Personal Protective Equipment And Other Essential Supplies,” Press Release, 4/2/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Texas Has Contributed $20,000 To The North Texas Food Bank To Help Replenish Necessary Food Supplies For Area Residents Experiencing High Levels Of Unemployment Or Reduced Income Due To The COVID-19 Crisis. (Molina Healthcare, “North Texas Food Bank Receives $20,000 Donation From Molina Healthcare To Help Feed Area Residents In Need,” Press Release, 4/30/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Utah Is Donating $15,500 To Relief Efforts In The Wake Of COVID-19.  Molina Will Provide Funds To Food Banks And Other Community-Based Organizations Across The State That Are Working To Provide For Those Most In Need. (Molina Healthcare, “Molina Healthcare Of Utah Donates $15,500 To Area Nonprofits In Response To Coronavirus Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/24/20)

Molina Healthcare Of Washington Committed Over $1 Million In Donations And Relief Efforts To Local Communities And Organizations In The State As Part Of Its Comprehensive COVID-19 Community Response Plan.  This Initiative Focuses On Reducing Disparities In Access To Care. (Molina Healthcare of Washington, “Molina Healthcare Of Washington Commits Over $1 Million To Support Local Communities Affected By COVID-19,” Press Release, 6/15/20)

MVP Health Care Is Partnering With CDPHP And Quick Response To Provide The Cities Of Albany, Schenectady, And Troy With Essential Sanitation Equipment To Protect Local First Responders From COVID-19. (MVP Health Care, “MVP Health Care, CDPHP, And Quick Response Partner To Invest In The Capital Region And Its First Responders,” Press Release, 5/18/20)

‘Ohana Health Plan Donated 26,000 Units Of Personal Protection Equipment To The Hawaii Hospital Education And Research Foundation To Help Protect Providers Across Hawaii During The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. (‘Ohana Health Plan, “’Ohana Health Plan Donates 26,000 Units Of PPE To Hawaii Health Care Workers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/10/20) 

Oscar Health Is Partnering With Uno Health To Help Oscar Medicare Advantage Members Unlock Financial Assistance, Providing Critical Relief During The COVID-19 Crisis.  Oscar Medicare Advantage Members Have Achieved An Average Financial Assistance Of More Than $5,000 Per Member. (Oscar Health, “Oscar And Uno Health Partner To Unlock Financial Support And Resources For Medicare Advantage Members,” Press Release, Accessed 5/13/20)

Priority Health Is Partnering With Papa To Enlist College Students To Provide Essential Services And Companionship For Seniors During The COVID-19 Crisis And Help With: 

• Sign Up For And Use Of Technology Services Such As Telehealth.
• Virtual Hangouts To Socialize.
• Pick-Up And Delivery Of Pharmacy Refills And Food.
• Identifying And Preventing COVID-19 Email And Phone Scams.
• Transporting Members To Necessary Medical Appointments.
• Cleaning And Sterilizing Frequently Touched Surfaces Inducing Mailboxes And Doorknobs.

(Priority Health, “Priority Health And Papa Connect Older Adults With College Students To Combat Isolation, Deliver Essential Services,” Press Release, 6/9/20)

Providence Health Plan Is Helping Ensure Health Care Workers Have Personal Protective Equipment And Provide Vulnerable Populations With Soap And Disinfectant.(“Your Hub For Coronavirus Resources,” Providence Health Plan, Accessed 5/5/20)

QualChoice Health Insurance Is Distributing $35 Walmart Gift Cards To Arkansans In Need To Use On Essential Items, And Resources To Communities Across Arkansas Through Partnerships With Local Organizations Such As The Arkansas Food Bank, Healthy Connections, Hoover Treatment Center, Lucie’s Place And Others. (QualChoice Health Insurance, “QualChoice To Provide Critical Supplies And Community Supports During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/28/20)

SCAN Health Plan Is Committing $5.1 Million To Address A Variety Of Needs For Vulnerable Seniors And Others At Risk Due To The Effects Of The COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Emergency Funding Will Address: Delivery Of Additional Services To Seniors In Need Of Nutritious Meals And Other Essential Supplies; New Financial Support To Non-Profit, Senior-Focused Organizations And Provider Groups In Addition To The Nearly $350,000 In COVID-19-Related Funding SCAN Has Already Provided To Such Groups; And Assistance For SCAN Employees Most Impacted By The Crisis. (SCAN Health Plan, “SCAN Health Plan Allocates More Than $5 Million To Support Coronavirus Relief For Seniors,” Press Release, 4/15/20)

• SCAN Health Plan Is Providing Emergency Funding For Nonprofits Serving Seniors, Including, To Date, An Additional $330,000 To 14 Organizations – Most Of Which Are Delivering Meals And Other Necessary Supplies. (SCAN Health Plan, “Applauding Governor Newsom’s Call To Protect California Seniors, SCAN Health Plan Expands COVID-19 Member And Community Support,” Press Release, 4/2/20)

Sentara Healthcare

• Partnering With Local Health Departments, Urban League And NAACP Chapters, Community Organizations And Faith Groups To Provide Free COVID-19 Tests In Underserved Communities Sentara Serves Across Virginia And In Northeast North Carolina. 

(Dale Gauding, “Sentara Partners With Community Organizations To Offer Free Coronavirus Testing To Underserved Minority Populations,” Sentara Healthcare, 5/26/20)

Superior HealthPlan Is Providing Additional Mental Health Resources To Texas Residents Impacted By The COVID-19 Crisis.  Through A Series Of Partnerships, Superior Will Enable Providers To Better Support Communities That Are Experiencing Elevated Levels Of Stress Caused By An Increase In Grief, Loss, Economic Pressure, Unemployment Or Social Isolation.  As Part Of This Effort, Superior Is Taking The Following Steps:

• Collaborating, In Partnership With Its Parent Company Centene Corporation, The Allegheny Health Network And The CARES Institute At Rowan University To Fund Virtual Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training Cohorts.
• Donating To The National Council For Behavioral Health’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, Specifically For The Provision Of Mental Health First Aid, Ensuring A Long-Term Impact Beyond The Current Crisis.

(Superior HealthPlan, “Superior HealthPlan Investing In Mental Health Resources For Texans Impacted By COVID-19,” Press Release, 6/24/20)

Superior HealthPlan Is Contributing A Total Of $100,000 To Nine Organizations That Support Americans Living With Disabilities Affected By The COVID-19 Crisis. (Superior HealthPlan, “Superior HealthPlan Announces Initiatives To Support Disability Community Affected By COVID-19 In Texas,” Press Release, 6/18/20)

Tufts Health Plan Is Awarding $170,000 In Grants To 10 Nonprofit Organizations, Part Of The $1 Million It Committed To Support Community Efforts Addressing COVID-19 In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire And Connecticut.  In Total, 49 Organizations On The Front Lines Of The COVID-19 Crisis Have Received Funding.  This Funding Goes To Organizations Working To Improve Access To Food And Respond To Inequities In Housing And Services.  It Bolsters Collaborative Regional Responses, Particularly In Communities Reporting The Highest Rates Of COVID-19 Infection. (Tufts Health Plan, “Tufts Health Plan Foundation Announces Third Wave Of Funding To Address Coronavirus Impact,” Press Release, 5/19/20)

• Tufts Health Plan Has Made $10,000 Grants To Five Diverse Community Organizations To Help Them Address The COVID-19 Crisis. (Tufts Health Plan, “5 Community Organizations Receive Grants From Tufts Health Plan Employee Groups,” Press Release, 5/5/20)

• Tufts Health Plan Foundation “Is Donating $1 Million To Efforts Driven By Community And Nonprofit Organizations Supporting Older People Affected By The Coronavirus Outbreak In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire And Connecticut.” (“Health Insurance Providers Respond To Coronavirus (COVID-19),” AHIP, 3/25/20)

• Tufts Health Plan Is Providing Funding To 18 Additional Nonprofit Organizations As Part Of The $1 Million It Has Committed To Support Community Efforts On Behalf Of Older People Affected By The Coronavirus.  This Second Wave Of Funding, Totaling $345,000, Focuses On Housing And Equity Efforts In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire And Connecticut. (Tufts Health Plan, “Tufts Health Plan Foundation Announces Second Wave Of Funding To Address Coronavirus Impact,” Press Release, 4/14/20)

UCare Is Supplying Health Care Providers, Group Homes, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Social Service Organizations And Vulnerable Members With Telehealth Home Kits, Masks, Healthy Snack Boxes And iPads And Is Offering $25,000 Grants To Small Provider Groups And Community Clinics To Build Infrastructure During The  COVID-19 Crisis. (“COVID-19: What’s Covered?” UCare, Accessed 5/20/20)

UCare Announced That The UCare Foundation Is Providing $500,000 In Short-And Long-Term Assistance To Benefit Minnesotans Impacted By COVID-19, And The Funds Will Support Needs Related To Social Isolation, Telehealth, Food Insecurity And Personal Protective Equipment. (“UCare Will Cover Costs For Hospital Services To Treat COVID-19,” UCare, Accessed 4/23/20; UCare, “UCare Foundation COVID-19 Funds Support Communities In Need,” Press Release, 4/24/20)

UniCare Health Plan Of West Virginia Announced $134,000 In Grants To Community-Based Organizations To Support Health Care Workers And First Responders, Improve Access To Food And Shelter For The Homeless And Other Vital Community Needs And Resources.  UniCare Health Plan Has Also Provided Ongoing Member Support For Those That May Have An Increased Need During This Crisis, Including Those High-Risk Members Impacted By Immunosuppression, Chronic Conditions Or Social Isolation. (“Stay Informed About Coronavirus (Covid-19),” UniCare Health Plan Of West Virginia, Accessed 5/26/20)

UnitedHealth Group Has Made Nearly $70 Million In Philanthropic Commitments Since The Start Of The COVID-19 Crisis In The U.S. To Help Fight Hunger, To Develop Plasma Treatments For The Virus And To Expand COVID-19 Testing In Underserved Communities, Among Other Causes. (Marguerite Ward, “9 Major Companies That Have Shown Compassionate Leadership In Their Response To The Coronavirus Pandemic,” Business Insider, 5/13/20)

• UnitedHealth Group Is Donating $5 Million To Support A Federally Sponsored Program Led Mayo Clinic Seeking To Accelerate And Expand The Availability Of Investigational Convalescent Plasma Treatments For COVID-19 Patients Nationwide.  (UnitedHealth Group, “UnitedHealth Group Donates $5 Million To Support A Federal Program Developing Treatments For COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/21/20)

• UnitedHealth Group Has Been Asked To Assist The U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services In Distributing, As Directed By The Department, An Initial $30 Billion In Emergency Funding To Health Care Providers Seeking Assistance Under The CARES Act. (UnitedHealth Group, “UnitedHealth Group Honored To Assist The U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services Under The CARES Act,” Optum, 4/10/20)

• UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare And Optum Are Committing An Initial $50 Million To Combat COVID-19 And Support Affected Communities.(UnitedHealth Group, “UnitedHealth Group Commits Initial $50 Million To Combat COVID-19 And Support Affected Communities, Press Release, 3/26/20)

WellCare Has Partnered With Shipt, A Same-Day Delivery Service, To Help Medicare Advantage Members Safely And Conveniently Access Groceries And Everyday Essentials Throughout 2020, Providing Them With A Critical Service During The COVID-19 Crisis.  Providing Low-Income And Special Needs Plan Members In Select WellCare, WellCare TexanPlus And ‘Ohana Medicare Advantage Plans With Free, Monthly Shipt Memberships For The Remainder Of 2020. (WellCare, “WellCare Partners With Shipt To Provide Free Grocery Delivery Memberships To Medicare Advantage Members For Remainder Of 2020,” Press Release, 8/3/20)

WellCare Of Georgia Will Award Grants Up To $1,500 To Local Community Partners Through Its Community Connections Resource Grant Process To Help Support Those Affected By The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The Goal Of The Grant Process Is To Identify Local, Community-Based Organizations That Are Creating Innovative Solutions To Address Social Service Barriers Affecting Vulnerable Populations Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic. (WellCare Of Georgia, “WellCare Of Georgia To Award Grants To Local Social Service Providers To Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts,” Press Release, 4/8/20)

WellCare Of North Carolina Is Partnering With Community-Based Organizations And Other Programs Across The State To Provide Access To Food And Other Essential Supplies.  WellCare Of North Carolina Has Donated $40,000 Directly To Local Food Pantries And Community Partners Across The State.  WellCare Also Purchased Nearly $35,000 Worth Of Walmart Gift Cards To Support Vulnerable Populations In The Community Who Are In Need Of Food, Supplies And Support During The COVID-19 Crisis.  Each Gift Card Holds A Value Of $35 And Can Be Used To Purchase Essential Items. (WellCare of North Carolina, “WellCare Supports North Carolina Communities In Need During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 6/2/20)

WellCare Of South Carolina Will Award Grants Up To $1,500 To Local Community Partners Through Its Community Connections Resource Grant (CCRG) Process To Help Support Those Affected By COVID-19.  The Goal Of The Grant Process Is To Identify Local, Community-Based Organizations That Are Creating Innovative Solutions To Address Social Service Barriers Affecting Vulnerable Populations Due To The COVID-19 Crisis. (WellCare Of South Carolina, “WellCare Of South Carolina To Award Grants To Local Social Service Organizations To Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts,” Press Release, 4/29/20)

In A Letter Vice President Pence And Congressional Leaders, Private Health Care Organizations Pledged Their Commitment “To Working With State, Federal And Local Officials In Every Way Possible.” (America’s Health Insurance Plans et al, Letter To Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/18/20)

• “We Are Committed To Working With State, Federal And Local Officials In Every Way Possible, From Supporting Our Public Health Heroes, To Offering Specific Policy And Regulatory Changes, To Assisting Governors, Legislatures, The Congress And The Administration.” (America’s Health Insurance Plans et al, Letter To Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/18/20)

• “This Moment Challenges All Of Us … We Will Do Everything Possible To Ensure That The Private Sector And Government Collaborate And Cooperate On Behalf Of The American People.” (America’s Health Insurance Plans et al, Letter To Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/18/20)

In A Letter To Congressional Leaders, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) & Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Pledged Their Commitment To Working With Capitol Hill In Every Way Possible To Help America Through The COVID-19 Emergency:

• “Support Businesses In Their Goal To Continue Providing Health Coverage To Their Employees.” (Matt Eyles & Scott Serota, AHIP’s And BCBS’s Letter To Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/19/20)  

• “Establish Robust New Funding To Support Americans Who Lose Their Jobs To Allow Them To Maintain Coverage.” (Matt Eyles & Scott Serota, AHIP’s And BCBS’s Letter To Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/19/20)  

• “Establish A Temporary, Emergency Risk Mitigation Program To Ensure That Health Care Premiums Do Not Spike, And That Benefits Are Stable In The Future.” (Matt Eyles & Scott Serota, AHIP’s And BCBS’s Letter To Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/19/20)  

• “Allow A One-Time Special Enrollment Period (SEP) For The Individual Market – Regardless Of An Individual’s Current Health Status Or Whether They Have Coverage Today.” (Matt Eyles & Scott Serota, AHIP’s And BCBS’s Letter To Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/19/20)  

• “Enhance Current Financial Assistance To Lower The Cost Of Premiums For Those Who Rely On The Individual Market.” (Matt Eyles & Scott Serota, AHIP’s And BCBS’s Letter To Senators Mitch McConnell & Chuck Schumer, & Representatives Nancy Pelosi & Kevin McCarthy, 3/19/20)  

Alkermes Made Donations To The Council On Aging, Wilmington School District, Healthy Waltham, ALONE And Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Amgen Made An Initial Commitment Of Up To $12.5 Million To Support U.S. And Global Relief Efforts To Address COVID-19 And Is Matching Donations Made By Amgen Staff Around The Globe Who Wish To Contribute Their Own Funds To The Relief Efforts. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

AstraZeneca Donated Nine Million Face Masks To Support Health Care Workers Around The World. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Bayer Made A $250,000 Commitment To The Berkeley Relief Fund, An Initiative By The Berkeley, California, City Council To Provide Emergency Relief Grants For Small Businesses, Nonprofit Arts Organizations And Worker Rent Support. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Biogen Committed $10 Million To Support Global Response Efforts And Communities Around The World Impacted By The COVID-19 Pandemic. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Boehringer Ingelheim Purchased And Donated 100,000 Protective Masks.  (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Bristol Myers Squibb Has Provided $5 Million In Financial Support And Needed Products Around The World. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Genentech Donated An Initial $3 Million To Organizations Dedicated To Providing Emergency Public Health Response, Food Assistance, Housing And Care For The Most Vulnerable In Our Communities. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20; Healthcare Leadership Council, “Healthcare Industry Actions To Protect Patients During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 3/26/20)

Johnson & Johnson Increased Its Commitment By $50M For Immediate COVID-19 Response To Help Frontline Healthcare Workers.  (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Lundbeck Made A Significant Donation To The Center For Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund, Donated A Large Portion Of Its Inventory Of Disposable Gloves To California Healthcare Workers In Local Area Hospitals And Donated 1 Million Chinese Yuen To The Red Cross Foundation To Support The Front Line Workers In The City Of Wuhan. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Merck, Eli Lilly And Pfizer Are Freeing Up Medical Employees To Help Fight The Coronavirus. “The spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic has put a strain not only on the Big Pharma’s operations but also the stability of the U.S. healthcare system.  With thousands of medical employees at their fingertips, drugmakers are now turning their workforce against the virus.  Merck & Co., Eli Lilly and Pfizer have launched or expanded volunteer programs for their medically trained staff to help fight COVID-19, the companies said in a release.” (Kyle Blankenship, “Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer Free Medical Employees To Join Front-Line Pandemic Fight,” Fierce Pharma, 4/2/20)

Merck Provided A Half A Million Personal Protective Masks To New York City For Use As Part Of Urgent Efforts To Address The Outbreak In New York. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

• Merck Is Supporting Its Employees Around The World Who Are Uniquely Qualified To Provide Medical Services And Wish To Aid Communities Affected By The COVID-19 Pandemic And Is Collaborating With The Health Management Academy To Identify Facilities With The Greatest Need And Triage Potential Qualifying Volunteers To Serve. (Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., And Eli Lilly And Company, “Medical Professionals Across Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., And Eli Lilly And Company Activate To Support Health Systems, First Responders And Patients Amid COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/1/20)

Novartis Created A $20 Million Global Fund To Support Impacted Communities And Entering Into New Collaborative Research. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Pfizer Provided A $500,000 Grant To International Medical Corps And Created A New Global COVID-19 Medical Service Program That Empowers Medical Colleagues To Provide Diagnostic, Treatment, And Public Health Support In The Battle Against COVID-19. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20; Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., And Eli Lilly And Company, “Medical Professionals Across Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., And Eli Lilly And Company Activate To Support Health Systems, First Responders And Patients Amid COVID-19 Pandemic,” Press Release, 4/1/20)

Takeda Is Donating More Than $6.25 Million Dollars To Organizations In The United States To Help Those Impacted By The Coronavirus. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

Teva Pharmaceutical Is Donating Critical Medicines, Which Are Being Studied In Clinical Trials To Assess Benefit Against COVID-19 Globally. (“Member Company Efforts To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak,” PhRMA, 3/26/20)

HCA Healthcare To Provide Up To 1,000 Ventilators As Part Of Its Public-Private Collaboration To Battle COVID-19. “HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, today announced it will provide as many as 1,000 ventilators as part of the American Hospital Association’s collaboration with the federal government and health systems to distribute this critical piece of equipment to hospitals experiencing a surge of patients with COVID-19.  HCA Healthcare chief executive officer Sam Hazen participated in a White House briefing with President Donald J. Trump on April 14 to announce the launch of the Dynamic Ventilator Reserve.  This new public-private collaboration will distribute ventilators to critical areas of need in the fight against COVID-19.” (HCA Healthcare, “HCA Healthcare To Provide Up To 1,000 Ventilators As Part Of Public-Private Collaboration To Battle COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/16/20)

• HCA Healthcare And Google Cloud Jointly Announced The COVID-19 National Response Portal, An Open Data Platform Built And Operated By SADA. “’COVID-19 presents a unique and significant challenge to healthcare providers, and collaboration and coordination is more important than ever to help ensure the best possible response,’ said Dr. Edmund Jackson, HCA Healthcare’s chief data officer.  ‘While COVID-19 has driven us apart physically, we will respond to it by coming together digitally.  We are proud to work alongside Google Cloud to create a platform to help address this urgent public health challenge.’” (HCA Healthcare, “HCA Healthcare Teams With Google Cloud And SADA On Data Portal To Help Communities Respond To COVID-19,” Press Release, 4/6/20)

• Vice President Gives Thanks To HCA Healthcare For Supplying Thousands Of Ventilators To New York And New Jersey. “Thank you to a great American company, @HCAhealthcare, for working to get ventilators to NY & NJ.  In addition, rather than laying off their workers, HCA announced a special pandemic pay program for 40,000 employees.  We’re grateful for their commitment to the American people.” (Vice President Mike Pence, Twitter, 4/5/20)

• HCA Healthcare Discusses Innovative Efforts To Expand ICU Capacity. “HCA Healthcare has now developed a calculator for use in all of our hospitals.  The calculator uses such variables as CDC estimates about transmissibility of the disease, the average daily patient population under normal circumstances, the population of the area surrounding the hospital, the current speed of transmissibility (are we on an Italy trajectory, a South Korea trajectory, etc.) and the current level of mitigation taken in a jurisdiction (social distancing, closure of bars/restaurants, shelter in place, etc.).” (Dr. Michael Schlosser, MD, “HCA Healthcare Discusses Innovative Efforts To Expand ICU Capacity,” HCA Healthcare, 3/31/20)

Puritan Medical Will Increase COVID-19 Swab Testing Production. “Puritan Medical Products, a privately held Maine-based medical equipment manufacturer, was tapped by the White House to ramp up much-needed coronavirus testing supply production.  ‘It is a partnership between Puritan and the government’ to ‘supply a minimum of 20 million swabs per month and up to almost 50 million swabs per month,’ Executive Vice President of Global Sales Timothy Templet told CNBC’s Jim Cramer.” (Tyler Clifford, “Trump Taps Medical Supplies-Maker Puritan Medical To Ramp Up Coronavirus Swab Testing Production,” CNBC, 4/21/20)

Medicare Is Expanding Its Services To Treat Those Who Are Suffering From COVID-19. “The biggest change to Medicare is that it will now provide full coverage for testing and any service leading up to the test.  These ‘services’ generally involve the remote examination by a primary care physician or on-call physician prior to the recommendation for testing.  This coverage extends to both Medicare Advantage and original Medicare, regardless of whether a deductible or co-pay has been met.” (Sara Zeff Geber, “Medicare Flexes And Changes To Meet The COVID-19 Challenges,” Forbes, 4/6/20)

The University Of Michigan Has Developed A Device For COVID-19 Patients That Helps Free Up Ventilators For Severe Cases. “Researchers from the University of Michigan developed a helmet-like device that they say will benefit hospitals by sparing ventilators and protecting coronavirus health care workers.  Within hospitals, patients with contagious diseases are often treated in negative pressure rooms.  These rooms are designed to contain airborne contaminants like the coronavirus.  With hospital systems across the country overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, access to negative pressure rooms is limited.” (Serena McNiff, “University Of Michigan Develops Device For COVID-19 Patients That Helps Free Up Ventilators For Severe Cases,” HealthDay News, 4/15/20)

Businesses Across The Country Are Also Stepping Up To Aid The Country Through The COVID-19 Crisis: 

Colleges And Universities Are Stepping Up To Produce Essential Personal Protective Equipment For Health Care Workers. “Colleges have found unique ways to produce PPE for essential workers in their communities, building upon an underground network of 3-D printing enthusiasts and harnessing the collective knowledge and goodwill of professors, students and researchers, demonstrating the vital role that colleges and universities play in communities across the country.” (Abigail Hess, “How Colleges And Universities Are Stepping Up To Produce Essential PPE For Health-Care Workers,” CNBC, 5/5/20)

Food Chains Across The Country Are Offering Deals For Health Care Workers. “Food chains across the country are serving up a little something special for nurses and health care personnel working tirelessly amid the coronavirus pandemic, by offering free deals and steals in honor of National Nurses Week.” (Janine Puhak, “National Nurses Week 2020: Chains Offering Deals For Health Care Workers,” FOX News, 5/5/20)

Tech Entrepreneurs Have Formed Coalition To Take On Sourcing COVID-19 Supplies. “A pair of tech entrepreneurs has started a coalition including companies and nonprofits to help address a shortage of medical supplies for health-care workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, an effort that has grown to include companies from Volkswagen AG to health-care distributor Cardinal Health Inc.” (Rachael Levy, “Tech Entrepreneurs Form Coalition To Take On Sourcing Coronavirus Supplies,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/30/20)

American Companies Innovate To Fight COVID-19. “True Value Co. heard from its more than 4,500 affiliated hardware stores last month that hand sanitizer was flying off the shelves, leaving store staff with none for themselves.  At the company’s factory in Cary, Ill., which makes cleaning products and paint, John Vanderpool, the company’s divisional vice president of paint, recalled asking, ‘What can we do to help here?’  After a tip from his wife, a pharmacist, he consulted with the Food and Drug Administration, then huddled with his maintenance team and engineers over two weekends to retool two paint-filling lines to produce jugs of FDA-approved hand sanitizer.” (Greg Ip, “American Companies Innovate To Fight The Coronavirus, In Echo Of World War II,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/16/20)

Companies And Governments Are Investing Billions Of Dollars In Research And Development For A COVID-19 Vaccine. “In the race to develop a vaccine to end the COVID-19 pandemic, governments, charities and Big Pharma firms are sinking billions of dollars into bets with extraordinarily low odds of success.  They’re fast-tracking the testing and regulatory review of vaccines with no guarantee they will prove effective.  They’re building and re-tooling plants for vaccines with slim chances of being approved.  They’re placing orders for vaccines that, in the end, are unlikely to be produced.” (Julie Steenhuysen, Peter Eisler, Allison Martell & Stephanie Nebehay, “Special Report: Countries, Companies Risk Billions In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine,” Reuters, 4/25/20)

COVID-19 Has Transformed 3-D Printing, And Companies Like Stratasys, Shapeways And Carbon Are Rushing To Rapidly Produce Much Needed Medical Test Equipment, Ventilator Components And Face Masks During The COVID-19 Crisis. “To combat the medical equipment shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic, GE Healthcare is using 3-D printing to make tools that accelerate ventilator production.  Jeff Bezos’ space venture Blue Origin is leveraging 3-D printers to make plastic components for face shields.  And with support from Adidas, digital manufacturing firm Carbon, in Silicon Valley, is using its highly elastic polymer featured in $200 Adidas running shoes to produce more than 15,000 face shields weekly for health-care workers caring for COVID-19 patients.” (Maggie Overfelt, “How 3-D Printing Is Helping The US Fight Medical Equipment Shortages And The Coronavirus Pandemic.” CNBC, 4/17/20)

The Private Sector Is Shifting Into Gear On Its Own And In Partnership With The Government. “The Trump administration and 20 major health care systems launched a new ventilator loan program that will allow hospitals to ship unused machines to areas where they are needed most to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Axios’ Joann Muller reports.  General Motors started manufacturing ventilators on Tuesday under a $489.4 million federal contract.  But it will take until August to produce all 30,000 the government ordered under the Defense Production Act.” (Caitlin Owens, “Medical Supply Scramble Continues,” Axios, 4/15/20)

Space Companies Pivot To Producing Supplies To Battle Coronavirus. “Space-focused organizations around the U.S. are now looking to manufacture ventilators and other much-needed health equipment to aid the pandemic relief effort.  Why it matters: With high-minded ideals centered on delivering humanity to orbit, the space industry can feel removed from the machinations of everyday life.  The coronavirus crisis is bringing it down to Earth.” (Miriam Kramer, “Space Companies Pivot To Producing Supplies To Battle Coronavirus,” Axios, 4/14/20)

A Coalition Of Private And Nonprofit Organizations Announced An Initiative To Let People Donate Masks And Stored-Away Medical Equipment Directly To Hospitals More Efficiently. “If you have a handful of N95 masks you can contribute or if your company has leftover gloves sitting in a supply closet, you can mail them in.  And you don’t have to pay a cent.  Companies such as UPS, Microsoft, the American Hospital Association and Kaiser Permanente are among those that built out the infrastructure for the project called ‘Protecting People Everywhere,’ using the same initials for the much needed personal protective equipment, or PPE.” (Dalvin Brown, “Microsoft, UPS And Health Care Companies Create App So You Can Donate Masks To Hospitals,” USA Today, 4/14/20)

Businesses Automate The Battle Against Coronavirus. “Hospitals, grocery stores and other essential services are enlisting robots in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, accelerating an already fast-growing market for workplace automation, industry analysts say.  The deployments include both software and hardware robots.” (Angus Loten, “Calling All Robots: Businesses Automate The Battle Against Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/6/20)

Companies Across The United States Have Shifted Operations To Support Healthcare Workers. “As the world faces a shortage in critical medical supplies created by the rapidly spreading virus, businesses have launched efforts to donate supplies from ventilators, respirators, masks to hand sanitizer.  Other companies have taken the initiative to manufacture their own products.” (Daniella Genovese, Companies Join Coronavirus Fight By Helping Health Care Workers, FOX Business, 3/27/20)

50 Companies Join The Administration’s Fight Against The Coronavirus. “Some 50 major American firms have joined the national war on the coronavirus, many volunteering to shift their focus and even assembly lines to deliver needed supplies to doctors, hospitals, first responders and others on the front lines.” (Paul Bedard, “Team USA: 50 Companies Join Trump’s War On Coronavirus,” Washington Examiner, 3/31/20)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Aerospace Manufacturer Honeywell Plans To Hire 500 Workers At Its Plant In Rhode Island, Which Currently Produces Safety Goggles, To Make Millions Of N95 Face Masks For Medical Professionals.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “3M Has Doubled Its Global Output Of N95 Masks And This Week Is Sending 500,000 Respirators To Hot Spots In The U.S.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Corporations Including Apple, Facebook, Tesla And Goldman Sachs Are Donating Millions Of Medical Masks Stockpiled For Wildfires Or A Biochemical Attack.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Apparel Manufacturers Are Repurposing Textile Mills To Produce Personal Protective Equipment. Hanes Plans To Manufacture Masks Using U.S. Cotton At Factories In El Salvador, Honduras And The Dominican Republic.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Dozens Of Breweries And Distillers Including Anheuser-Busch And Pernod Ricard USA Are Churning Out Hand Sanitizer.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Fuel Cell Manufacturer Bloom Energy Is Retrofitting Hundreds Of Old Ventilators For The State Of California.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “Ford Said … That It Would Start Assembling Plastic Face Shields And Work With 3M And GE To Make Respirators And Ventilators.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

• “General Motors Is Also Exploring How To Use Its Global Automotive Supply Chain To Make Ventilators.” (Editorial, “Private Industry Mobilizes Against The Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/20)

UnitedHealth Group And Microsoft Are Offering Companies A Free App To Screen Employees For COVID-19. “UnitedHealth Group and Microsoft are offering companies a coronavirus screening app called ProtectWell that provides a daily symptom screener to help clear employees to go to work or directs them to be tested if they are at risk for infection.” (Bertha Coombs, “Microsoft And UnitedHealth Offer Companies Free App To Screen Employees For Coronavirus,” CNBC, 5/15/20)

Amazon Has Teamed Up With Medical-Supply Company Urgent Response Products Amid The COVID-19 Crisis To Stock A Website For Health Care Providers And Government Groups. “The page on Amazon’s website, COVID-19 Supplies, sells a range of personal protective equipment, including gloves, goggles, face masks and other supplies, but the gear is being offered only to frontline workers.  Amazon said it will not make a profit of the sales.” (Shawn M. Carter, “Amazon, Medical Supply Firm Team Up To Sell Coronavirus PPE To Health Care Workers,” FOX News, 5/11/20)

Apple Is Awarding $10 Million To Copan Diagnostics Inc., One Of The Leading Makers Of Sample Collection Kits Involved In COVID-19 Testing. “The grant comes from Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund and will help Murrieta, California-based Copan accelerate its supply of testing kits for hospitals across the U.S. to more than 1 million a week by early July, from several thousand currently, Apple said Thursday in a statement.  As part of the effort, Copan will also move to a new, larger facility with advanced equipment that Apple is helping design.” (Molly Schuetz, “Apple Grants $10 Million To Copan Diagnostics For Testing Kits,” Bloomberg, 5/7/20)

Google Commits To Expanding Distribution Of COVID-19 Vaccine. “In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai outlined steps the company would be taking to expanding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The company will provide over $150 million in grants to promote vaccine education, mostly through the form of ad grants provided to the World Health Organization, CDC Foundation and nonprofits globally. Google will also begin to offer location data on local vaccination sites and will take steps to battle vaccine misinformation.” (Johan Moreno, “Google Commits To Expanding Distribution Of COVID-19 Vaccine,” Forbes, 1/25/21)

MetroPlus Is Partnering With Amazon, Bain & Co., And Non-Proft AIRNYC To Help Connect Vulnerable Members To Social Services. “A new collaboration between the insurer MetroPlus, Amazon Web Services, Bain & Co. and the nonprofit AirNYC has helped the health plan rapidly connect with its most vulnerable members to check on their needs and keep them out of the hospital.” (Jonathan Lamantia, “NYC Insurer Partners With Amazon, Bain & Co. To Connect Members To Social Services,” Modern Healthcare, 5/8/20)

Airbnb Announced A New Global Initiative To Connect COVID-19 Responders With Hosts To Help Provide Housing For Those On The Front Lines. “Today, Airbnb is announcing a new global initiative to help connect those responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with safe and convenient places to stay while they carry out their critical work.  The company’s goal is to help house 100,000 healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first responders around the world.  Airbnb will waive all fees for stays arranged through this initiative.” (Airbnb, “Hosts To Help Provide Housing To 100,000 COVID-19 Responders,” Press Release, 3/26/20)

3M And Ford Have Started Shipping Newly Designed Powered Air-Purifying Respirators For Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19. “Newly designed powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), developed by Ford in close collaboration with 3M, are on the way to health care workers fighting COVID-19.  Since late March, the companies have been working rapidly to design and deliver urgently needed PAPRs, drawing on 3M’s expertise in personal safety equipment, technology and regulatory requirements.” (3M, “3M And Ford Begin Shipping Newly Designed Powered Air-Purifying Respirators For Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19,” Press Release, 5/6/20)

Nike Donated $500,000 To Help New Yok City Provide Food Assistance And Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) To New York City Health Care Workers. (Lucas Manfredi, “Nike Announces Coronavirus Donation For NYC Health Care Workers,” FOX News, 4/22/20)

ExxonMobil Has Started To Make Hand Sanitizer For Health Care Workers. “ExxonMobil has reconfigured a facility in Louisiana to manufacture medical-grade hand sanitizer, with a production target of 160,000 gallons, to be donated to health care providers and first responders.  ExxonMobil’s shift to sanitizer comes as oil companies are squeezed by plummeting demand, a global oil glut and rock-bottom crude prices.” (Camila Domonoske, “ExxonMobil Starts Making Hand Sanitizer, Following Liquor Companies,” NPR, 4/24/20)

Gamemaker Hasbro Is Producing COVID-19 Face Shields For Health Care Workers. “Gamemaker Hasbro announced Saturday that it will team up with Belgian-based card and board game manufacturer Cartamundi to produce 50,000 face shields per week for front-line health care workers at Massachusetts and Rhode Island hospitals battling coronavirus.  The personal protective equipment will be manufactured at Cartamundi’s facility in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.” (Lucas Manfredi, “Gamemaker Hasbro To Produce Coronavirus Face Shields For Health Care Workers,” FOX News, 4/26/20)

Live-Life, A Consortium Of Over 100 Event Production Companies, Have Come Together To Build Temporary Hospitals And Drive-Thru Testing Centers. “Live for Life, a consortium of over 100 companies in the space, is more than just an on-the-fly response to the pandemic.  The group has rapidly united competitors, who normally handle events ranging from festivals to automotive conferences.  Now they have come together to build temporary hospitals and drive-thru testing centers, supporting nationwide efforts in combating the disease while keeping as many people employed as possible.” (Dan Reilly, “How Over 100 Live-Event Companies Pivoted To Building Temporary Coronavirus Hospitals And Testing Sites,” Fortune, 4/21/20)

Northwell Health, FormLabs And Others Have Partnered Together To Implement 3D-Printed Nasal Swabs To Test For COVID-19. “In partnership with Formlabs and others, Northwell Health recently announced that it has started 3D-printing nasal swabs to be used within the health system and across the U.S. to test for COVID-19.  To overcome a shortage of swabs, Northwell Health teamed up with the University of South Florida, Tampa General Hospital and Formlabs to design and produce the swabs.” (James Rogers, “In The Battle Against Coronavirus, 3D-Printed Nasal Swabs Enter The Health Care Arsenal,” FOX News, 4/21/20)

Google Has Unveiled New Technology To Help Doctors And Patients Share Health Information. “Google is announcing the general availability of technology that, if widely adopted, could make it easier for patients to access their own health information via third-party apps.  Health care systems could warm to the technology, known as the Google Healthcare API, as new government mandates loom that will require them to make it easier for patients to see and use their health data.” (Christina Farr, “Google Unveils Tech To Make It Easier For Doctors And Patients To Share Health Info,” Tech Crunch, 4/20/20)

Apple And Google Have An Ambitious Plan To Help Officials Track COVID-19. “Google and Apple have teamed up to build software to trace who’s been infected by Covid-19 directly into iOS and Android, the two operating systems that power almost 100% of the world’s smartphones.  The software will become available in May for public health groups to build apps with it.” (Kif Leswing, “Apple And Google Have An Ambitious Plan To Help Officials Track Coronavirus – Here’s What Needs To Happen Now,” CNBC, 4/15/20)

Ford Adds Gowns And COVID-19 Tests To Its Medical Equipment Initiative. “Ford, which will begin production Tuesday of air-purifying respirators in partnership with 3M MMM, will produce reusable medical gowns from airbag materials and expand Thermo Fisher TMO Scientific’s ability to make COVID-19 collection kits for patient testing.” (Greg Gardner, “Ford Adds Gowns, Covid-19 Tests To Its Medical Equipment Initiative,” Forbes, 4/13/20)

Ford To Begin Producing Respirators For Health-Care Workers At Michigan Plant. “Ford will begin producing new powered air-purifying respirators Tuesday at one of its plants in the Detroit area to assist in protecting health-care workers from Covid-19.  The facility, Ford said, will have the ability to make 100,000 or more respirators.  The company also said it is now producing face masks for internal use globally and pursuing certification for medical use at another plant near Detroit.” (Michael Wayland, “Ford To Begin Producing Respirators For Health-Care Workers At Michigan Plant,” CNBC, 4/13/20)

The FDA Has Authorized Two Companies To Decontaminate Respirators. “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week issued two emergency use authorizations (EUA) to medical devices allowing them to decontaminate N95 or N95-equivalent respirators so that they can be reused by health care workers.  The first EUA was granted to Steris Corp. on April 9; the second on April 11 to Advanced Sterilization Products Inc., which has been owned by Fortive Corp. since 2019.” (Jaimy Lee, “FDA Authorizes Two Companies To Decontaminate Respirators,” MarketWatch, 4/13/20)

Tech Companies Are Stepping Into The Void Left Open By The Federal Government. “As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, tech companies are stepping into the void left by a reluctant or incapable federal government – enabling contact tracing, wrestling with testing, and ramping up the capacity of government operations like unemployment services, Axios managing editor Scott Rosenberg reported this weekend.” (Caitlin Owens, “Big Tech moves Into Government Vacuum,” Axios, 4/13/20)

Apple And Google Debuted A Major Effort To Help People Track If They’ve Come In Contact With Coronavirus. “Apple and Google unveiled an ambitious effort Friday to help combat coronavirus, introducing new tools that could soon allow owners of smartphones to know if they have crossed paths with someone infected with the disease.  The changes the two companies will make to iPhone and Android devices could inject valuable new technological support for contact tracing, a strategy public-health officials say is essential to allowing people to return to work and normal life while containing the spread of the pandemic.” (Tony Romm, Drew Harwell, Elizabeth Dwoskin & Craig Timberg, “Apple, Google Debut Major Effort To Help People Track If They’ve Come In Contact With Coronavirus,” Washington Post, 4/10/20)

Companies Seek To Pool Medical Records To Create Coronavirus Patient Registry. “Several health-care and software companies are seeking to create a registry of Covid-19 patients by pooling medical records from across the country, aiming to study how the disease is spreading, which population groups are most vulnerable and how effective proposed treatments are, people familiar with the matter said.”(Patience Haggin, “Companies Seek To Pool Medical Records To Create Coronavirus Patient Registry, Wall Street Journal, 4/8/20)

Hilton, AmEx Are Donating Up To 1 Million Rooms To Healthcare Workers. “As healthcare workers fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Hilton and American Express will donate 1 million hotel rooms across the U.S. to those working on the front lines.  On Monday (April 6), the companies announced that starting next week, they will provide free rooms to medical professionals.” (Staff, “Hilton, AmEx Donate Up To 1M Rooms To Healthcare Workers,” PYMNTS, 4/6/20)

With Games Paused, Sports Companies Shift To Making Medical Supplies. “On the agenda that night was a discussion to devise methods of handling the deluge of patients infected by Covid-19.  The doctors said that the most critical items needed were mechanical ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure machines, or CPAPs.  Baker instantly knew where to turn.  In another life he had designed engines for the Jordan Racing team (now Racing Point), a team in Formula One racing.  He knew that Formula One teams trained in shaving milliseconds off their race times are capable of producing extremely high quality machinery in a remarkably short span.  The next day, March 25, Baker met with two engineers from Mercedes-AMG Petronas, the leading Formula One team, based in the British Midlands.” (David Waldstein, “With Games Paused, Sports Companies Shift To Making Medical Supplies,” The New York Times, 4/7/20)

UPS Is Airlifting Health Care Supplies For FEMA. “UPS launched a two-week operation to run 25 cargo flights carrying masks, gloves, surgical gowns and other equipment for the health care industry under the federal government’s Project Airbridge.  The airlift of shipments from China, Malaysia, Honduras and other countries is an initiative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and companies including health care distributors.” (Kelly Yamanouchi, “UPS Manages Airlift Of Health Care Supplies For FEMA,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/7/20)

Deerfield Management Co. Has Raised $840 Million For A New Venture-Capital Fund Dedicated To Early Drug Innovation, Digital Health And Medical Technology. “New York-based Deerfield said half of the funds will be used to back companies and academic institutions developing new drugs.  The rest will be put toward digital health, telemedicine, medical-technology and health-care delivery companies, which the firm expects to become more important to the health-care system in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.” (Riley Griffin, “Deerfield Raises $840 Million For New Health-Care Venture Fund,” Bloomberg, 4/6/20)

Apple Will Produce 1 Million Face Shields Per Week For Healthcare Workers And Has Also Donated 20 Million N95 Masks To Governments And Hospitals. “Apple is designing and producing face shields for medical workers, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a video on Sunday.  The company is aiming to produce 1 million face shields per week.  ‘We’ve launched a company-wide effort, bringing together product designers, engineering, operations and packaging teams, and our suppliers to design, produce, and ship face shields for health workers,’ Cook said.” (Kif Leswing, “Apple Will Produce 1 Million Face Shields Per Week For Medical Workers,” CNBC, 4/5/20) 

Multinational Companies And Startups World-Wide Are Reprogramming Their Cutting-Edge 3-D Printers To Tackle Shortages Of Critical Medical Equipment Caused By The Coronavirus Outbreak. “Industrial giants including Siemens AG and General Electric Co., tech companies such as HP Inc. and specialists like Aenium Engineering of Spain are redirecting their engineering and manufacturing capabilities to help hospitals and health-care workers.  EOS GmbH of Germany, a 3-D printing pioneer, on Tuesday launched an industrywide website, 3DAgainstCorona, showcasing global efforts.” (Daniel Michaels & Asa Fitch, “3-D Companies Tackle Coronavirus Supply Shortages, The Wall Street Journal, 4/2/20)

Brooks Brothers Announced It Will Convert Its Factories In New York, Massachusetts And North Carolina From Manufacturing Ties, Shirts And Suits To Medical Masks And Gowns To Combat The Ongoing Shortage Of PPE. “The New York City-based clothing company will use its facilities to make up to 150,000 masks per day to help healthcare workers at hospitals and other facilities in need battling the spread of the coronavirus.  Factory workers will return to work this week following a two-week precautionary self-quarantine, the company said. Brooks Brothers said it will also practice social distancing on-site at all facilities to protect staff.” (Jeanette Settembre, “Brooks Brothers Fights Coronavirus By Making Protective Equipment For Health Care Workers,” FOX Business, 3/30/20)

Virgin Orbit Partnered With Medical Researchers At The University Of California Irvine And The University Of Texas At Austin To Develop A Ventilator Device. “Richard Branson’s California-based rocket company Virgin Orbit partnered with medical researchers and developed a ventilator device that the company plans to mass produce and send to hospitals around the United States to fight the coronavirus.” (Michael Sheetz, “Richard Branson’s Rocket Company Virgin Orbit To Begin Mass Producing Ventilators,” CNBC, 3/30/20)

GE Healthcare And Ford Are Teaming Up To Make 50,000 Ventilators In The Next 100 days. “Production of the critical care devices is expected to begin with United Auto Workers union members the week of April 20, according to executives at both companies.  Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan will be able to produce 30,000 ventilators a month after early-July, officials said.  Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4, officials said.” (Michael Wayland, “Ford, GE Plan To Produce 50,000 Ventilators In 100 Days,” CNBC, 3/30/20)  

• U.S. Manufacturers Answer General Motors’ Call For Ventilator Components. “When General Motors and Ventec Life Systems sought out capacity to build 200,000 ventilators, they turned to U.S. suppliers for the parts, as the coronavirus pandemic threatened global supply chains and made speed a key driver.  The lifesaving machines that help patients breathe are desperately needed by hospitals across the nation facing shortages.  New York State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has said his state alone may need 30,000 or more to service patients suffering from covid-19.” (Stephanie Dhue, “US Manufacturers Answer General Motors’ Call For Ventilator Components Amid Coronavirus Crisis,” CNBC, 4/1/20)

Medtronic Is Sharing Its Portable Ventilator Design Specifications And Code For Free. “Healthcare and biomedical engineering company Medtronic  was in the news recently because Tesla CEO Elon Musk had discussions with the company about the automaker’s potential plans to build ventilator hardware in order to address the COVID-19 crisis.  Today it’s doing something potentially far more impactful.  Medtronic is making available to anyone the full design specifications, produce manuals, design documents and, in the future, software code for its Puritan Bennett (PB) 560 portable ventilator hardware.” (Darrell Etherington, “Medtronic Is Sharing Its Portable Ventilator Design Specifications And Code For Free To All,” Tech Crunch, 3/30/20)

James Dyson Quickly Designed New Ventilators And Is Making 15,000 To Fight The Pandemic. “Dyson has received an order from the UK government for 10,000 ventilators to support efforts by the country’s National Health Service to treat coronavirus patients.  James Dyson, the company’s billionaire founder, confirmed the order in a letter to employees shared with CNN on Wednesday.” (Nada Bashir, James Dyson Designed A New Ventilator In 10 Days. He’s Making 15,000 For The Pandemic Fight, CNN Business, 3/26/20)

Hertz To Begin Free Rental Program To Help Health-Care Workers Fight The Coronavirus. “Hertz Global Holdings Inc.—awash in idle rental cars as the travel industry grinds to a halt from the coronavirus outbreak—is offering free rental vehicles to help health-care workers get to their jobs.  Hertz said it will begin the program this week in New York City, which has emerged as the epicenter of the nation’s Covid-19 outbreak.” (Mike Colias, “Hertz To Offer Free Rental Vehicles To Help Health-Care Workers,” Wall Street Journal, 3/25/20)