Virginia Association of Free Clinics
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How We Help
 

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that an estimated 1,025,400 Virginians were uninsured for all of 2008.  According to the Virginia Health Care Foundation, Virginia ranks 48th (2007) among all states and the District of Columbia in Medicaid coverage of low-income adults (19-64).  Therein lies the most important reason why there is such a great need for Free Clinics in Virginia.

 
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What is a Free Clinic?
A Free Clinic is a private, nonprofit, community-based or faith-based organization that provides compassionate, quality health care at little or no charge to low-income, uninsured people through heavy use of volunteer health professionals and partnerships with other health-related organizations.

Why Does VAFC Exist?
Every industry or group of organizations with similar interests does well to have an association to represent and promote them.  That is what VAFC does for Virginia’s Free Clinics.  The mission of the VAFC is to support, strengthen, and advocate for Free Clinics to deliver quality health care to Virginia’s low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents.

Free Clinics Impact the Community in Many Ways

Medical Care
In 2008, Free Clinics provided 132,434 general medical visits worth $12.7 million, and 38,013 specialty medical visits worth $6.8 million.

Prescription Medications
In 2008, Free Clinics provided 610,664 prescription medications worth $44.4 million to their patients. 

Dental Care
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Virginia Free Clinics currently provide dental care. A total of 30,175 dental visits worth $5.8 million were provided in 2008.

Hospital/Lab Support
Hospitals and lab companies contributed nearly $18.6 million of in-kind services to Free Clinic patients in 2008.

Mental Health Counseling
In 2008, 30 Free Clinics provided 8,772 counseling visits worth $843,000.

Our 58 clinics and over 10,000 volunteers made a big difference in the lives of their patients for medical, dental and mental health care. And we do it efficiently. For every one dollar spent, Free Clinics provided access to $3.75 in heatlhcare services for our patients. This strong ratio is due to Free Clinics’ extraordinary ability to leverage the volunteer and charitable capacity of the health system.

Learn more about volunteer opportunties >

Free Clinics funding comes mostly from the private sector. More than 69% of the funding comes from private sources like The United Way, local businesses, foundations, religious organizations, civic organizations and individuals.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has contributed more than $8.7 million to Free Clinics since 1992. The Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $3,196,410 to Free Clinics in fiscal year 2009.
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Anthem