TUCSON, Ariz. (March 4, 2021) – Banner – University Health Plans today announced awardees of grants funded through the Community Reinvestment Program. Under the guidance of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the program provides philanthropic support to community-based organizations to improve access to health services and enhance public health.

With emphasis on whole-person integrated health care, the awardees have developed programming with innovative practices related to health care service delivery. They seek to benefit the public at large, serve low-income individuals, reduce health disparities, advance health care knowledge through education or research, and/or enhance public health department activities.

Banner – University Health Plans received more than 70 applications from community-based organizations throughout southern and central Arizona. Vetted for alignment with the health plan’s goals and priorities, the applications were reviewed and scored by a multi-disciplinary team made up of Banner – University Health Plan staff and leaders. Thirteen agencies were selected for having proposals that aim to improve access to care and health outcomes for the communities served. Examples include expansion of telehealth services, outreach to high-risk populations and clinical programming for opioid dependence.

The grants were awarded to Copa Health, El Rio Health Foundation, HOPE Inc., Hushabye Nursery, Intermountain Centers for Human Development, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, La Frontera Arizona, Banner University Medical Center – Tucson, Resilient Health, Southwest Network, Terros Health, Tucson Children’s Museum and Valle del Sol.

“We are pleased to collaborate with these great community organizations,” said Jim Stringham, Banner – University Health Plan CEO. “The programs and partnerships will help improve member outcomes and advance our mission of making health care easier, so life can be better.”

About Banner -- University Health Plans

Banner – University Health Plans is a nonprofit, regional health plan dedicated to serving the health and insurance needs of the people of Arizona. For more than 20 years, Banner – University Health Plans has provided access to best-in-class health care with unparalleled compassion and responsiveness to help members live healthy and well. Its product portfolio includes Commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Special Needs Plans. Banner – University Health Plans is the insurance division of Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner – University Health Plans is based in Tucson, Arizona, and serves more than 275,000 members in 10 Arizona counties. For more information, please visit www.banneruhp.com.