BD along with Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers on Monday announced four community health centers were awarded with a total of $1.08 million to implement programs to support chronic disease management to underserved communities.

The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities Innovations in Care award recognizes U.S. community health centers for excellence in helping vulnerable patients manage their complex chronic diseases and improve their overall health.

This year’s awardees will receive a grant for $270,000 each to build upon the demonstrated impact their novel care approaches have on at-risk populations. All four community health centers also received the Innovations in Care award in 2021.

The supplemental funding will enable the health centers to continue enhancing impact through holistic, culturally sensitive, team-based care and by providing pharmacist-led patient education and counseling.

The funding will also be used to help remove barriers to care by addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) — including where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and their age, all of which affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

“Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are more likely to experience worse health outcomes for complex chronic conditions, yet less likely to receive preventive health services,” Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD stated. “We are directly addressing these health inequities by investing in community health centers that help ensure underserved patients receive quality care. These centers are located in high-need areas, available to all regardless of their ability to pay, and deliver culturally relevant care to meet the specific needs and priorities of their communities.”

The following Innovations in Care 2022 award winners are:

Healthnet in Indianapolis, Indiana; Northeast Valley Health Corporation in San Fernando, California; Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa, California and Wahiawa Center for Community Health in Wahiawa, Hawai.

The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities initiative, which is funded by BD and the BD Foundation, and implemented jointly by Direct Relief and NACHC, has provided 52 awards to community health centers in 20 states since 2013, with a total commitment of $22.6 million in cash and product donations.