Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island's (BCBSRI) vision of passionately leading a state of health and well-being across Rhode Island is only accomplished by carrying out our mission: To improve our members’ health and peace of mind by facilitating their access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. ALL of our members deserve the peace of mind from getting safe, affirming, and inclusive healthcare.

That’s one of the reasons why we began our LGBTQ Safe Zone program several years ago. We take very seriously our responsibility to help cultivate a safe and inclusive environment for members of the local LGBTQ community, and that extends to healthcare. Pride Month may be celebrated in June, but the recognition of the need for equality for LGBTQ people is an everyday fight. This program helps facilitate access to affirming care for this underserved community with specific healthcare needs, one that has historically struggled with healthcare interactions and has often forgone necessary regular care due to feelings of alienation, stress, frustration, and fear.

Our Safe Zone program has expanded significantly over the years, and now includes more than 40 practices and community-based organizations earning Safe Zone status and being certified as providing safe, affirming, and inclusive care to the LGBTQ community. Besides primary care practices, that list now includes specialty, dental, and mental health practices, substance abuse and sexual trauma centers, and assisted living facilities for older adults. Participating sites are identifying themselves as welcoming places for the LGBTQ community and proudly display a BCBSRI Safe Zone logo to reaffirm that status for all who enter their facility.

Through this program, we have successfully helped our members find safe and inclusive places to receive care, and we’re always looking to expand our network of Safe Zone sites. In fact, we accept applications for new practices twice each year, by 15 de fevereiro and 15 de agosto. So, the next deadline is coming up soon, and it’s a wonderful time to consider joining our growing network of Safe Zone practices.

By becoming a Safe Zone, you’d be helping provide a welcoming space committed to inclusive treatment, protecting against discrimination and differential treatment, ensuring your commitment to equality for LGBTQ patients, and helping to advance health equity across our provider network – as well as throughout our state.

You can review the program requirements for Safe Zone practices and the four-step certification process, as well as complete an application, at bcbsri.com/providers.safezone-program. Those requirements include guidelines for handling patient identity, training requirements, your physical office space, and procedures Safe Zones are expected to follow. That page also includes many helpful resources to keep you updated on best practices for LGBTQ care.

We want you to know that besides being here for our community, we’re here for you – and we welcome any questions or thoughts you have about our Safe Zone program. You can direct those questions to bcbsrisafezone@bcbsri.org. And as always, thank you for all you do to keep our members and all Rhode Islanders safe and healthy.