BOSTON – The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation has awarded $2.22 million to 56 community health organizations around the state to assist residents in obtaining healthcare.

Grants ranged from $20,000 to $75,000. The funds will be used to help patients sign up for health insurance and find providers, advocate for better healthcare coverage and improve the care for those who remain uninsured.

“Thousands of people today have health insurance or better access to care thanks to the work of our grantees,” said Sarah Iselin, the foundation's president. “Despite the impressive gains made in Massachusetts, where only 3 percent of state residents do not have health insurance coverage, our grantees are busier than ever. Supporting them helps us fulfill our mission, which is to expand access to care to low-income and vulnerable state residents.”

The grants were made in three program areas established by the foundation in 2001:

• Connecting Consumers with Care, which supports community-based organizations, community health centers and select hospital-based programs that help low-income consumers enroll in MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, the Health Safety Net and other public and private health access programs and connect with providers.
• Strengthening the Voice for Access, which provides core operating support to organizations that promote community-based policy activities, increase citizen participation in public policy development and promote collaboration among statewide policy and advocacy organizations on health access issues for uninsured and low-income people.
• The Innovation Fund for the Uninsured, which supports organizations that improve the organization, continuity and completeness of care for the uninsured.

A full list of the 56 grantees will be posted here soon.