Excellus accepting nonprofits’ applications for maternal-health program grant funding

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield on Monday said that nonprofit organizations can submit ideas for its Member and Community Health Improvement (MACHI) funding.

The money specifically targets maternal-health programs and access to maternal care within Excellus’ 31-county upstate New York coverage area.

Nonprofit organizations can submit project ideas via ExcellusBCBS.com. Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to review program guidelines by clicking the maternal health banner at the top of ExcellusBCBS.com to learn more. All applications are due no later than midnight on May 25, the health insurer said.

Submitting a brief idea summary is the first step in the grant process. Nonprofit applicants whose initiatives are selected for the next stage will then be invited to submit a full application. Excellus will announce final funding decisions this fall.

“In keeping with our mission to ensure access to high-quality health care and reduce health disparities, this targeted grant funding provides an opportunity to significantly advance our understanding of the factors underlying preventable maternal-health issues and improve maternal health and health equity in upstate New York,” Dr. Gina Cuyler, VP of health equity and community investments at Excellus, said.

Pregnant women in the U.S. are more than twice as likely to die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth than those in most high-income countries, Excellus said. The health insurer also cites data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) that childbirth complications have been increasing, specifically for women of color.

Excellus coverage area

Rochester–based Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is Central New York’s largest health insurer.

Excellus operates in 31 upstate New York counties, divided into four regions: the Central New York region, which includes Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties; the Utica region, comprising Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence counties; the Southern Tier region, including Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Tioga, Schuyler and Steuben counties; and the Rochester region, encompassing Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.