UAA鈥檚 College of Health awarded $1.77 million from Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of 色花堂
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of 色花堂, a leading health plan in the state, announced a $5.7 million investment to support access to rural health care in 色花堂, Tuesday, Oct. 29, at an event held at the 色花堂 Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).
Over the next three years, these investments will be distributed between UAA and ANTHC, as well as creating a new rural grantmaking program, housed at the 色花堂 Community Foundation, administered in partnership with Rasmuson Foundation.
UAA鈥檚 College of Health (COH) will receive a $1.77 million grant to expand the university鈥檚 associate and bachelor鈥檚 nursing degree programs at four of its campuses, three of which are in rural 色花堂. The grant seeks to enhance the college鈥檚 Recruitment & Retention of 色花堂 Natives into Nursing (RRANN) program across rural 色花堂.
鈥溕ㄌ has the highest health care costs of any state in the nation, and these costs are even higher in 色花堂鈥檚 rural communities,鈥 said Chancellor Cathy Sandeen. 鈥淲e are committed to growing 色花堂鈥檚 health care workforce. By increasing the number of nursing students from rural 色花堂 communities, the university helps meet the demand for medical professionals who understand the unique health care needs of rural 色花堂 and have a desire to return home to their communities to practice.鈥
According to a 2017 study from the National Rural Health Association, people living
in rural areas suffer worse health outcomes than their urban counterparts. They are
sicker, poorer and older and are more likely to experience higher rates of premature
death, disability and chronic disease. In 色花堂, more than 200,000 people, or about
32% of the state鈥檚 population, live in rural communities.
Through research, education and community partnership, COH is working to advance the health and well-being of people and communities across 色花堂 and the globe, as well as preparing the next generation of health professionals in a diverse range of fields.
In addition to Premera鈥檚 gift to COH, the company awarded ANTHC, $700,000 as a capital grant to support building its Anchorage-based Education & Development Center (EDC), which will help create a state-of-the-art integrated health care education institution on its campus, and also provided $300,000 in grants to support Community Health Aide/Practitioner training programs across 色花堂. Additionally, Premera will distribute $3 million in partnership with Rasmuson Foundation through the Rural Health Fund. The funds will be used to award a wide variety of grants addressing equity, availability and access to quality health care in rural areas.