The state’s largest health plan is also hosting a free Bluebikes Spin Class as part of “Mindful Mondays” to celebrate National Wellness Month

BOSTON, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In recognition of National Wellness Month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”) is sponsoring free Bluebikes Adventure Passes every Monday in August, beginning August 7, for its third annual “Mindful Mondays” initiative, and is also hosting a free Spin Class on August 28th – the last Monday of the month – to encourage people in the Metro-Boston region to exercise and take care of their mental health. The free Adventure Passes will be available across the system’s 13 municipalities, including Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown. Blue Cross is the sponsor of Bluebikes, which is owned by the municipalities and operated by Lyft.

Riders can take advantage of complimentary Adventure Passes on “Mindful Mondays” by downloading and opening the Bluebikes App and entering the appropriate code. Each code will unlock one free Adventure Pass, which includes an unlimited number of two-hour rides during a 24-hour period. The codes for each Monday are as follows:

• August 7: BLUECROSS0807
• August 14: BLUECROSS0814
• August 21: BLUECROSS0821
• August 28: BLUECROSS0828

To honor their commitment to providing access to wellness-oriented experiences in support of whole health journeys, BCBSMA is also hosting a free 60-minute Bluebikes Spin Class on August 28th. The class will be first come first serve, open to the public, and will take place at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston. Rev’d instructor, Alyssa Pannozzi, will be leading the class, who is also known for their dedication to enhancing mental and physical health.  

Biking can help put us in a mindful state – reducing stress, improving your mental and physical health, and even increasing your overall happiness in life, according to Health News. Taking 20-30 minutes away to concentrate solely on exercise can rejuvenate mood and lessen anxiety.

“National Wellness Month serves as a valuable reminder of the crucial role that mental health plays in one’s overall wellbeing,” said Jeff Bellows, vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs at Blue Cross. “For the third year in a row, we’re promoting healthy communities and the power of mindfulness with our ‘Mindful Mondays’ initiative, and we hope Metro Boston residents can get outside, practice mindfulness and enjoy the whole-body benefits of a Bluebikes ride.”

Blue Cross has been the title sponsor of Bluebikes since its launch in May 2018. Through its partnership with the municipal owners of Bluebikes, Blue Cross continues to support system growth and accessibility, including station expansions, upgrades, and additional bikes.

About Bluebikes
Bluebikes is public transportation by bike. The system is jointly owned and managed by the Cities of Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Salem, and Somerville and the Town of Brookline. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the system’s title sponsor. Riders can find 455 stations and 4,000 bikes across 13 municipalities in Metro Boston. Since 2011, more than 20 million trips have been taken by bike share. For more information about Bluebikes, visit bluebikes.com 

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

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• A proposal to allocate $100 million in federal funds to subsidize adult mental health programs easily cleared the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday.
• Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro supports the initiative, according to a spokesman.
• “If we are talking about unmet mental health needs, this money is truly just a drop in the bucket, ” Mike Schlossberg, the bill’s Democratic sponsor, said.

A proposal to allocate $100 million in federal funds to pay for adult mental health programs easily passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday, a plan built on the recommendations of a state commission charged with issuing suggestions for coordinated care.

The bill passed 173-30 and was sent to the Senate. A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said that he supports the legislation.

The American Rescue Plan Act money would bolster the behavioral health industry’s workforce, improve the criminal justice and public safety systems and expand access to support.

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“It is a little strange to talk about $100 million as a number that is both large and small, but that’s actually what we’re looking at here. This money will have a deeply personal impact on people across the commonwealth,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Schlossberg, a Lehigh County Democrat. “That being said, if we are talking about unmet mental health needs, this money is truly just a drop in the bucket.”

The measure stems from the effort that began last session when the Legislature created the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health. The 24 members — from the behavioral health field, state agencies and a variety of communities — were told to determine how to divvy up federal funds designated for such uses.

The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Keystone State’s Democrat-led House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill allocating federal funds toward adult mental health services. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

The largest chunk of funds, $34 million, would go toward workforce development and retention in the behavioral health field, which would include training, paid internships, loan repayment and tuition assistance.

About $32 million would address criminal justice and public safety programs through grants administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Sponsors said it would help reduce recidivism.

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Additional funds would pay for supporting suicide prevention programs, integrating behavioral health with physical health in primary care practices, developing peer-led mental health and substance use services and developing grants for technology and training for telehealth providers.

Other bills eyeing mental health also are in the pipeline, including legislation to support children’s mental health in schools, ongoing funding for the suicide prevention hotline 988, plus funding for counties’ services.

A top priority for counties is securing more state aid for the safety-net mental health services that they administer. They say there aren’t enough beds or counselors for people who need help after demand spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A spokesman for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said it supports the legislation, even though the money is not helping fund the county-run services. For those services, counties are seeking an additional $150 million — an almost 60% increase — while Shapiro’s budget proposal included just $20 million more.

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