Share this article OAKLAND, Calif., April 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California today announced that it has provided more than $114 million in direct financial support to 244 healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are part of a $200 million Provider Financial Support Program that Blue Shield announced last April. A nurse from Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System educates agricultural workers about COVID-19 "The program has been successful in accomplishing what we intended," said Sandra Clarke, chief financial officer and senior vice president for Blue Shield. "It has primarily helped small to mid-sized practices and hospitals in our network to rise above the financial turmoil created by the pandemic and meet their cash-flow needs after most elective care was postponed during stay-at-home orders in early 2020. Our members rely on these organizations and independent healthcare providers to get the care they need, and I'm happy Blue Shield was in a position to step up and help these providers get through this challenging time."