Health Needs in the Washington Metropolitan Area: Potential Initiatives for Investment by CareFirst

In December of 2014, the District of Columbia (DC) Department of Securities and Banking determined that the cash reserves held by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield were "excessive" and ordered the company to spend $56 million on community health needs. This report draws on existing community health needs assessments and other public data to identify the needs in the area served by CareFirst and to provide examples of the types of community investments CareFirst could make. We argue that investments by CareFirst should be developed in partnership with the community to ensure that they meet the most pressing needs of area residents.