GE to Give $50-Million to Urban Health Clinics

General Electric will pump $50-million into community health clinics in cities across the country over the next couple years as part of a drive started last year to slow the rapid increase in U.S. healthcare spending, reports Reuters.

The large American conglomerate has given $8.5-million to facilities in 37 cities so far, including a $1-million donation to two Atlanta clinics announced Wednesday.

The grants, which will mainly support equipment purchases and outreach programs, seek to help community clinics expand care to low-income or uninsured patients who often resort to hospital emergency rooms as their only source for medical care, driving up overall health-care costs.

To learn more about giving strategies of General Electric and other big companies, see The Chronicle’s most-recent survey of corporate philanthropy.