Advocate

Since 1993, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) has been an effective advocate at the state and national level for free and charitable clinics, their volunteer workforce, and the patients served by free and charitable clinics. During the legislative session, the VAFCC staff and our healthcare advocates walk the halls of the legislative buildings urging lawmakers to support, oppose, or modify dozens or even hundreds of bills each session that support the work of Virginia's healthcare safety net. Join us and be a voice in support of accessible quality healthcare. 
 

2026 Legislative Day

The VAFCC held its Legislative Day on February 4 during the 2026 General Assembly Session. An effective way to ensure clinic voices are heard on important issues affecting healthcare safety net we'll be focused on the following:

• Increasing the annual state appropriation to clinics via budget amendments sponsored by Del. Willett (HB30 Item 282 #1h) and Sen. Locke (SB30 Item 282 #9s) to shore up safety net capacity to serve an anticipated surge of uninsured with the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies and Medicaid changes under HR1.
• Supporting HB606 (Willett) to improve COPN charity care condition compliance by simplifying the annual charity care reporting process required by the state of medical facilities holding a COPN and opposing any potential legislation that would alter COPN in any way that would jeopardize the charity care condition, an essential provision for indigent care as well as an important funding resource for Virginia's network of free and charitable clinics.
• Opposing any potential legislation that would reduce or eliminate Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Tax Credits, an essential incentive tool for free clinics to attract and retain critical healthcare volunteer providers and donors.
• Opposing any potential legislation that would threaten the medical malpractice cap, and by extension the state's VaRISK 2 medical malpractice coverage which is made available at no cost to volunteer providers at free clinics.

See images from the 2026 VAFCC Legislative Day.