SALT LAKE CITY, UT. — The Regence Foundation announced today it awarded a $25,600 grant to Utah Partners in Health to help uninsured patients in medically underserved Magna, Kearns and West Valley City. The grant will directly fund 865 patient visits at any of the 11 Utah Partners in Health member clinics.

“At The Regence Foundation we believe that access to quality, affordable medical care is the foundation for healthy communities,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “For many low income and uninsured community members, however, that care isn’t readily available. That’s why one of The Regence Foundation’s focuses is funding organizations that connect people to health care close to home.”

Utah Partners for Health — founded by health care professionals and concerned community leaders to address the growing problem of the uninsured in Utah — operates under a unique model. Instead of establishing free–standing clinics, they pay for patients to be seen at existing for-profit health care clinics. By not paying overhead for buildings, supplies, utilities or additional staff, they leverage every $1 donation to provide $5.10 in health care services.

The organization treats more than 6,000 patients every year. Patients have one point of contact for scheduling, but can visit any of Utah Partners for Health’s 11 clinics and have access to electronic medical records.