Anthem Takes Action to Support COVID-19 Testing In Ohio Communities

With COVID-19 again on the rise, acknowledging health disparities is simply not enough. Especially now, everyone deserves access to affordable healthcare. That’s why we’re committing $100,000 to the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers to support increased COVID-19 testing in 20 of Ohio’s most challenged communities.

The funding is part of our $2.5 billion commitment to support communities, consumers, employers, healthcare providers and nonprofit partners across the country.

Community health centers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing healthcare to medically undeserved populations in rural and urban settings. Ohio’s community health centers provide affordable, quality whole person care that includes medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision and supplemental services to more than 850,000 Ohioans. Each center is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center/FQHC Look-Alike by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Keeping everyone safe is top priority. And the allocation of direct resources to support testing infrastructure is crucial to ensuring Ohio’s community health centers are a ‘safe place for safe care. We are grateful for the generosity of the Anthem Foundation to support so many communities across the state. — OACHC Chief Operating Officer, Julie DiRossi-King

The health centers will use the funding to support COVID-19 testing in ways as varied as the regions and populations they serve. The grants were designed to give the centers great flexibility to address needs specific to each center. Funds will be used to secure items such as portable generators, signage, personal protective equipment, materials for mobile testing, test kits, tents, portable hand washing stations, automated temperature monitoring systems and much more.