Medical Clinic Grants

Eleven million children in the United States have no health insurance, and 14 million more have inadequate health insurance, according to an August 2010 article in "Medscape Today." According to the Rural Assistance Center, inadequate access to healthcare resources can result in "higher out of pocket costs for care, poorer health outcomes than their insured counterparts, and a greater likelihood that easily-treatable ailments will go untreated and become serious medical problems." Health clinics can offer medical care to those who might otherwise go without. Several government, corporate and foundation grants support health clinics.

Department of Health and Human Services

• The Department of Health and Human Services offers grants to medical clinics through the "Service Area Competitions" grant program. The program's purpose is to "improve the health of the Nation's underserved communities and vulnerable populations by ensuring access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services," according to grant guidelines. Grants fund clinics that provide primary healthcare to underserved populations or areas, such as migrant workers, homeless persons, public housing residents or rural populations. Grant amounts depend on the scope of proposed projects and range over a 2- to 5-year funding period. Public agencies, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and faith- or community-based organizations are eligible to apply.

  Department of Health and Human Services

  Bureau of Primary Health Care

  Office of Policy and Program Development

  910 Clopper Road

  Suite 155 South

  Gaithersburg, MD 20878

  301-594-4300

  hrsa.gov

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan offers annual grants to medical clinics through the "Strengthening the Safety Net Improving Health Care Access Through Michigan's Free Clinics" program. Grants fund free clinics that provide healthcare services to underinsured and uninsured Michigan residents. Noncompetitive grants range up to $15,000 and can be used to fund expanded clinic hours, services or operations costs. Competitive grants award up to $50,000 and fund "creative approaches that result in sustainable expansion of the number of uninsured or underinsured patients served, number of services provided or types of services provided," according to grant guidelines. Eligible clinics must be nonprofit, provide medical, dental, mental health or pharmaceutical services, serve low-income populations, and provide clinical services mainly through volunteers.

  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

  600 E. Layfayette Boulevard

  Detroit, MI 48226

  888-417-3479

  bcbsm.com

Healthier Minnesota Community Clinic Fund

• The Healthier Minnesota Community Clinic Fund offers annual grants to medical clinics through the "Traditional Community Clinic Grants" program. Grants provide funds to support a "sustainable primary care safety net with capacity and access to quality care for those in need across Minnesota," according to grant guidelines. Grants range up to $1 million over a 1- to 3-year period. Community clinics, tribal health organizations, federally-qualified health centers, nonprofit hospitals and nonprofits that serve low-income populations are eligible to apply.

  Healthier Minnesota Community Clinic Fund

  PO Box 241236

  St. Paul, MN 55124

  612-599-1921

  minnesotacommunityclinicfund.org