Our Journey to Equal Social Justice
Below is a company-wide communication from Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO, addressing Derek Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd and what it means to advancing equity in America.
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Folks,
CareFirst stands with our associates, neighbors, and communities as we reflect on Derek Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd and process what it means to advancing equity in America.
This was a verdict of accountability and a step toward meaningful and necessary change that remains ahead. Achieving equal social justice will take time and will require our ongoing attention, care, and action in all facets of our society. But this change is right and possible through our shared responsibility and efforts. It is essential that each of us see the change and even more so that each of us be the change.
It has been a long year of reckoning which has shown a bright and often painful light on the inequities Black and Brown people experience in America on a day-to-day basis, too often with deadly consequences. As a healthcare company, we witness the grave impacts in the communities we serve as a direct result of the systemic disparities that persist in the United States healthcare system.
We encourage our associates and communities to continue, with urgency, to demand equity and to pursue social justice as a right and reality enjoyed by all. The health of our communities depends on it. Equally important, we are hopeful each of us will recognize the importance of caring for one another and opening ourselves to the shared work ahead with empathy, humility, and compassion.
We serve millions of people and have a profound responsibility to stand up for their health in every moment of their lives. And we will.
We will continue to lead with and for our associates and the communities we serve to advance meaningful change. CareFirst supports and encourages thoughtful, peaceful, and intentional advocacy and remains committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do.
Better is possible. We will do our part.
Best,
Brian
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 83rd year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.4 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2020, CareFirst invested $27.8 million to improve overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our website at www.carefirst.com and our transforming healthcare page at www.carefirst.com/transformation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.