Funder Spotlight: Greater Milwaukee Business Foundation on Health
Since 2008 the Greater Milwaukee Business Foundation on Health (GMBFH) has invested more than $790,000 with organizations that are helping to improve coverage, access and care coordination for low-income patients in Milwaukee County.
A private operating foundation created in 2002, the mission of GMBFH is to undertake studies, programs and activities which promote the general health of the persons residing in the greater Milwaukee area, and advance their awareness of health and health care delivery issues affecting them.
The GMBFH is not a grant making foundation. Instead, it works collaboratively with established organizations to improve health and healthcare delivery in the greater Milwaukee area. Partnership affiliates / organizations that have benefitted from GMBHF support are:
- Drug Assistant: a web-based resource that helps navigate drug manufacturers’ Patient Assistance Programs that provide discounted and free medications for low-income individuals. The GMBFH has enabled nearly 6,000 low-income and uninsured patients at eight safety net clinics to secure free or affordable medications – representing an average wholesale price total of more than $40 million dollars since 2008.
- Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN): GMBFH operating support to WISHIN covers implementation costs and annual subscription fees at eight safety net clinics so that they can receive and contribute to health information exchanged on behalf of their patients served at other providers in the community.
- Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN): a coalition of nearly 100 organizations working collaboratively to support health insurance literacy and enrollment. With reduced federal funding for all state Navigator programs, MKEN’s co-convener, Covering Wisconsin (CWI) experienced a 42% cut in 2018 which threatened their ability to provide an adequate enrollment assister workforce and outreach resources. GMBFH made a three-year commitment to strengthen MKEN’s capacity and help leverage 1:1 Medicaid match dollars to CWI through the WI Department of Health Services.
“We appreciate having access to the Drug Assistant prescription sourcing tool. It is an incredibly efficient process that leads to greater safety and helps ensure that folks don’t run out of their medication. Thanks so much to GMBFH for helping us improve medication access for patients.”
Steve Ohly RN, NP Clinic Manager
Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic