GE Foundation gives $2.1M to AmeriCares
The GE Foundation has awarded AmeriCares ”“ both are Fairfield County-based ”“ $2.1 million to increase aid deliveries to free clinics over the next three years, “expanding both the quantity and quality of medicines for uninsured and underinsured Americans,” AmeriCares said in a statement.
The funding brings the GE Foundation”™s support of AmeriCares’ U.S. work to nearly $3.5 million since 2010.
The money will allow AmeriCares to expand its U.S. medical assistance program, which provides donated medicines, vaccines and medical supplies to free clinics, community health centers and health departments nationwide.
AmeriCares bills itself as the nation”™s largest provider of donated medical aid to the U.S. health care safety net, last year delivering $70 million in prescription and over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies. On average, AmeriCares partner clinics receive six shipments annually.
AmeriCares has set a goal to increase its network of safety net partners from 635 to 750 by 2016, with an emphasis on adding more free clinics that, unlike federally qualified health centers, are not receiving federal funding through the Affordable Care Act and are heavily dependent on volunteers, donated services and medical donations.
AmeriCares also plans to increase the volume and value of its aid deliveries by 10 percent for each of the next three years.
“Studies show that more than half of uninsured patients with a chronic illness leave at least one prescription unfilled each year due to cost,” said Leslie McGuire, AmeriCares director of U.S. partnerships and programs. “With help from the GE Foundation, we are working to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other medical emergencies for low-income Americans, allowing them to live longer, healthier lives.”