Baton Rouge, La. – Healthy Blue and Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Foundation are once again coming together to reaffirm their commitment to improving healthcare access across Louisiana by providing scholarships for current students enrolled in Health Sciences programs. Healthy Blue’s $90,000 commitment for the scholarship opportunity will support students pursuing healthcare positions and address access to care and improve health equity in Louisiana.
Thousands of Louisianians receive care in a less timely fashion, lack access to locally available healthcare services and even challenges in accessing medical specialty care. In response, Healthy Blue and LCTCS have once again joined forces to help care for patients across the state where services and resources may be limited.
Healthy Blue serves nearly 345,000 Medicaid members across Louisiana. Through this scholarship investment with LCTCS, Healthy Blue will create healthcare access for approximately 1,000 Medicaid members per year per student.
“These scholarships were established to remove financial barriers and allow students to focus on reaching their education and career goals creating a straight path to success,” said Dr. Christy Valentine, Healthy Blue President. “Healthy Blue continues to invest and work with our community partners to find innovative solutions that bring more healthcare professionals to practice in traditionally underserved areas. We are grateful to continue this scholarship partnership with LCTCS to deliver on our mission of improving lives and communities and most importantly, strengthening our healthcare workforce.”
To receive the scholarship, students must submit a 500-word essay and be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours in a Health Science program at an LCTCS college. Students interested in applying for the scholarship may do so by visiting this link https://lctcsfoundation.awardspring.com/ and using their LOLA login credentials.
"Healthy Blue Louisiana has been an invaluable partner and supporter of our students for several years," said LCTCS President Monty Sullivan. “Based on their initial investment, it was clear the funding was critically important to help students complete their programs of study. Healthy Blue understands the barriers to completion that some of our students face, and this scholarship may be the difference between someone graduating or not. I look forward to our continued partnership with Healthy Blue Louisiana."
The scholarship awards will be in the amounts of $250 for part-time students and $500 for full-time students. Since 2018, Healthy Blue has contributed $140,000 to LCTCS to support student scholarships. In 2019 alone, Healthy Blue Louisiana donated $50,000 for 69 scholarships. Of the 69 scholarships awarded 63 students graduated.
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About the Louisiana Community and Technical College System
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) provides strategic management and support for Louisiana's 12 community and technical colleges. LCTCS colleges award associates degrees, technical diplomas, and industry-based certificates in programs aligned with business and industry and local economies, which lead students to good in-demand, high-wage jobs. www.lctcs.edu
About Healthy Blue
Healthy Blue is a managed healthcare provider that has been serving the state since 2012, and currently serves the state’s Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion and LaCHIP programs. Healthy Blue, a joint venture between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and Anthem Partnership Holding Company, LLC (parent company, Anthem, Inc.), recognizes the challenges low-income and underserved individuals face, and tailors its programs such that health plan members are assured care that is not only accessible, but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered. Healthy Blue provides ongoing community relations and outreach to encourage members to become active participants in their healthcare. Also, through health education programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain healthy lifestyles. To learn more about Healthy Blue, visit www.myhealthybluela.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyBlueLA and LinkedIn @healthy-blue-louisiana.