MSM Receives $140,000 Community Investment from Aetna to Advance Health Equity in Georgia
Grant will support Morehouse School of Medicine's student-run Health Equity for All Lives (H.E.A.L.) Clinic.
ATLANTA – JUNE 12, 2023 – Aetna Better Health® of Georgia, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), announced that Aetna provided a community investment of $140,000 to Morehouse School of Medicine. The investment will support Morehouse School of Medicine’s Health Equity for All Lives (H.E.A.L.) student-run free clinic (SRFC) to provide high-quality, comprehensive care to underserved populations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and surrounding rural communities.
“From the busiest cities to the quietest rural areas, all families deserve access to quality health care services, regardless of their location or circumstance,” said Georgia-based Sonya Nelson, division president at Aetna Medicaid. “We understand the health care challenges faced by many of Georgia’s underserved communities and are firmly committed to taking action to address the unique needs of these populations. Morehouse School of Medicine’s H.E.A.L. Clinic is doing just that — working to provide equitable access to health care for families across Georgia.”
The Morehouse School of Medicine H.E.A.L. Clinic is the only student-run clinic in Georgia that is free for patients. The clinic provides health screenings and vaccination drives, as well as care services through in-person, telehealth, and mobile health applications. This year, the clinic has a goal to provide no-cost health care to over 1,000 patients across Georgia’s underserved and uninsured populations.
“We’re grateful for the donation from Aetna to support the Morehouse School of Medicine H.E.A.L. Clinic in our efforts to address health equity in Georgia,” said Dr. Christopher Ervin, director of Community-Based Initiatives at Morehouse School of Medicine. “The clinic’s goal is to promote equal access to health care services across Atlanta and its surrounding rural communities by delivering no-cost health services to underserved populations. Low-income populations face greater barriers to affordable and quality health care, which is why our work is critical to the communities we serve. The donation will help us to increase the number of uninsured patients we serve and provide them with high-quality care at no cost.”
Inclusive of this donation, Aetna has recently invested over $2 million in local, community-based organizations across the state to support underserved populations in Georgia. This funding will help address the care needs of people in both urban and rural communities to help ensure all Georgians have access to holistic, quality care.
About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation's number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission—the creation and advancement of health equity. Morehouse School of Medicine's faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit www.msm.edu or call 404-752-1500.
About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid) has over 30 years of experience managing the care of under-resourced populations, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/o administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve members in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
Contact
Jamille Bradfield
Morehouse School of Medicine
jbradfield@msm.edu
Robert Joyce
Robert.Joyce@CVSHealth.com