ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation has received a $25,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM). The grant will support participating community pharmacies that offer vaccines in collaboration with BCBSNM’s Care Van® at community outreach events throughout the state.
“This grant will allow participating pharmacies the ability to offer more than just flu vaccines from the Care Van, as we normally do,” said Amy Bachyrycz, New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation president. “We can now increase access to other vaccines in communities throughout New Mexico.”
Currently, community pharmacies work in collaboration with BCBSNM’s Care Van to provide vaccines to patients who are uninsured or underinsured in communities throughout the state at various events, such as health fairs. This grant will allow pharmacies to offer additional vaccines, such as COVID-19, shingles, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and many others. This will allow for an increase in patient access to vaccines and an ability to fill a gap in care or a missed vaccine a patient may have.
“At BCBSNM, we designed our Care Van program to help expand access to care for all New Mexicans, especially those who are underserved,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “That’s why we are so excited to be partnering with the New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation to expand the types of vaccinations provided in our Care Van. We are working together to make health care in New Mexico more accessible.”
BCBSNM’s Care Van program launched a mobile health clinic in 2006 to travel statewide to deliver preventive health screenings, immunizations and community health education to communities at no cost. In 2018, the program unveiled a second Care Van to assist organizations in bringing medical services and screenings to even more children and adults. The services provided in the Care Van aim to reduce long-term health care costs for New Mexicans.
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About The New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation
New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation strives to promote research and education in pharmacy related areas. The New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation was developed to represent and promote the professional practice of pharmacy and assist pharmacists to provide quality pharmaceutical care.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with more than 680,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.