Clinics in the News

Free Clinics Bracing for Unprecedented Surge in Uninsured Patients

January 22, 2026 - RTD
Blows to Virginia’s health care system will come in waves over the next 24 months, with an estimated total of more than 300,000 Virginians losing their health insurance due to federal policy changes. As the General Assembly examines strategies to support health care access and affordability for residents, increasing funding for Virginia’s free and charitable clinics is one of the smartest and most cost-effective solutions on the table. Knowing this, Del. Rodney Willett and Sen. Mamie Locke have sponsored budget amendments to stabilize Virginia’s network of free and charitable clinics. It’s also the most prudent solution as clinics will experience the first wave of impact should Congress not extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. Without those, thousands of Virginians will be priced out of the Affordable Care Act marketplace, many of whom are frontline employees or small business owners who can’t afford the expected increases by as much as 40%.
 

Charlottesville Free Clinic Leader Shares Work & Impact

January 21, 2026 - CVILLE
The Charlottesville Free Clinic helped more than 3,000 patients in 2025 obtain medical and dental care. More than three-fourths of the clinic’s patients make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line, and roughly half make 138 percent or less. As the clinic braces for an increase in patients amid federal cuts to health care assistance, Executive Director Willa Barnhardt shares more: "The clinic exists so that people who fall through the cracks of the health care system can still get high‑quality, compassionate care. It’s powered by a huge volunteer network and funded largely by individual donations, which means the community is both giving and receiving care through the same place. This is the piece I think people often don’t realize: It’s not just a safety‑net clinic—it’s a community-built model of what equitable, accessible health care can look like."
 

Healing Hands Health Hosts Sweet Fundraiser

January 20, 2026 - WJHL11
Healing Hands Health his hosting their annual Sweets for the Sweet fundraiser this year. You can support their work of providing more accessible health care to those who need it most by ordering cupcakes for delivery to a recipient of your choice or to residents of a local senior living community for Valentine's Day. 
 

Advacing Compassionate Care for Those Most in Need

January 18, 2026 - Prince William Living
For more than two decades, Dr. Rebecca Sinclair has been a steady, compassionate force in Greater Prince William, ensuring that healthcare reaches those who would otherwise be left behind. An internal medicine physician, Dr. Sinclair is being recognized for her lifelong commitment to expanding access to care, strengthening community health systems, and advocating for the most vulnerable among us. Dr. Sinclair currently serves as Medical Director of StreetLight Community Outreach Ministries, where she provides comprehensive medical care to underserved adults, including individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income residents. Earlier in her career, she served as Medical Director of the Prince William Area Free Clinic, where she helped design sustainable healthcare infrastructure and strengthened services across several clinics serving uninsured residents.
 

Charlottesville Free Clinic Braces for More Patients After ACA Subsidies Expire

January 12, 2026 - CBS19
 The Charlottesville Free Clinic is preparing for an increase in patients after the U.S. Senate failed to pass an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Clinic leaders say they saw a jump in people seeking care at the beginning of the year and expect that number to continue rising as thousands of residents lose or face barriers to affordable health coverage. “We’re just kind of bracing for that impact,” said Willa Barnhardt, executive director of the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Barnhardt said about 380,000 people in Virginia used ACA subsidies last year. She said if those subsidies go away, many of those individuals may turn to free clinics for care. The clinic has already seen an increase in patients, particularly as flu cases remain high. Despite the added demand, Barnhardt said the clinic remains committed to providing care.
 

'We're Still Very Much in The Woods' As Flu Cases Continue to Spread

January 12, 2026 - Citizen
The influenza A strain with the subclade K variant is what practitioners like Dr. Mike Murchie, medical director at the Crossover Healthcare ministry free charitable clinic on Quioccasin Road, are seeing locally. “This strain worldwide has been more contagious than in other years and that seems to be the case from what we're experiencing as well,” said Murchie, whose clinics see 7,000 unique patients a year. “It's a type of variant that the world hasn't seen much of. So, because of that, more people are getting it.” State health data is showing that clinics and emergency rooms throughout Virginia have seen an increase in the number of people contracting the flu. 
 

Free Clinic of Powhatan Expands Care to Accept Medicaid Patients

January 5, 2026 - Times-Dispatch
The Free Clinic of Powhatan has expanded its services to accept Medicaid for medical care, strengthening its role as a critical health safety net for adults across Powhatan, Chesterfield, Amelia, and Cumberland counties. For decades, the Free Clinic of Powhatan has provided free medical, dental, mental health, and nutrition services to uninsured adults who otherwise might go without care. With this expansion, the Clinic can now serve both uninsured adults and adults with Medicaid, ensuring more neighbors have access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare close to home.
 

Healing Hands Health Leader Named Bristolian of the Year

January 3, 2026 - Herald Courier
Healing Hands Health's Executive Director Helen Scott was named Bristolian of the Year. This recognition comes as a result of more than two decades of dedicated service and community collaborations to ensuring quality healthcare is available to everyone in the region. While Helen leads the organization, she would be the first to say this honor belongs to the incredible staff, volunteers, students, partners, and supporters who make the work of this community health clinic possible.
 

Health Brigade is Transforming Lives with Compassionate Care

January 1, 2026 - RFM
At Health Brigade, Virginia’s oldest free and charitable clinic, they believe no one should have to face difficulties with healthcare alone. For more than 50 years, Health Brigade has been a sanctuary for those least served, delivering exceptional, non-judgmental care to people who are often overlooked and marginalized. One simple belief motivates this nonprofit’s work: healthcare is a human right. From its earliest days, Health Brigade has always run toward the healthcare challenges others avoid, providing care and education to their patients. As the world changes, Health Brigade’s commitment to serving the most vulnerable community members remains steadfast. 
 

Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic Receives Grant

December 30, 2025 - Gazette-Journal
The Mathews Women’s Giving Circle awarded grants to several area organizations that support the well-being of women and families in Mathews County. The Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic was awarded a $12,000 grant to support and expand access to dental care for Mathews families. “Thank you all so much for this tremendous support,” GMCC Executive Director Arlene Armentor wrote. “We are very much looking forward to being able to expand access to dental care for Mathews residents, and I look forward to updating you on our progress.”
 

Loudoun Free Clinic Receives Grant Award

December 22, 2025 - Loudoun Now
Changing Our Tomorrows, a private foundation based in Hamilton, held its inaugural 2025 competitive grant cycle that included  $75,000 to Loudoun Free Clinic to support healthcare services for low-income adults. Founded in 2012, the mission of Changing Our Tomorrows is to foster meaningful progress, champion inclusivity, and empower organizations dedicated to transforming lives and communities. In October, it invited Loudoun County organizations addressing mental health, health care, and housing to apply for funding support.
 

Free Clinic of Culpeper Food Pharmacy Reaches Patients

December 18, 2025 - Star Exponent
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank partnered with the Free Clinic of Culpeper to provide patient access to a food pharmacy earlier this year. An opportunity to not only provide food, the program also educates patients on how the right foods can help manage chronic illnesses, reduce hospitalizations and enjoy life. Over 500 patients were served by this program in the first year. 
 

Health Wagon Dental Clinic Receives Grant

December 16, 2025 - Times news
The Health Wagon has received a $50,000 grant for its dental clinic from the Health Access Hero Award from Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest. The national benefits providers use the awards to recognize groups and individuals working to improve health in areas of need. The grant money will help The Health Wagon enhance its Owens and Hill Dental Health Clinic. “Oral health is deeply connected to overall health, especially for those managing chronic diseases like diabetes,” Dr. Teresa Owens Tyson, president and chief executive officer. “This award allows us to reach even more patients who might otherwise go without care.” 
 

Heart of Virginia Free Clinic Receives Donation

December 5, 2025 - Farmville Herald
Heritage Baptist Church members held a Fall Festival November 8 to benefit the Heart of Virginia Free Clinic. The festival included a huge bake sale full of delicious cakes, cookies, pies, popcorn and cider. A silent auction also was held that allowed bidders to compete for donated items from local merchants and craftsmen. Face painting, gospel music and fun games for children and adults were enjoyed by all who attended. Pictured are Free Clinic Director Pat Payne, RN, center, receiving a donation check from Heritage church member, Jeanne Pohlman, left, as clinic Pharmacist Susan Lawman looks on. Lawman is a Heritage Church member.
 

Health Wagon & Innovative Drone Technology for Prescription Delivery

December 5, 2025 - TechBullion
In 2015, The Health Wagon partnered with NASA Langley, Virginia Tech, Flirtey, and local advocate Jack Kennedy to complete the first FAA‑approved drone delivery of prescription medications. The drone, now housed in the Smithsonian’s Thomas W. Haas We All Fly at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC., transported medications from a regional airport directly to a Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise County. The historic flight has become an international example of how targeted technology can solve real problems, such as keeping patients connected to essential healthcare even in extreme weather conditions. Today, The Health Wagon continues to explore new ways to reach patients beyond traditional delivery models. From mobile clinics and telehealth outreach to remote monitoring devices placed directly in homes, the organization has consistently adapted its approach to ensure care reaches even the most isolated patients. Drone delivery remains one of the most compelling use cases in global health equity. Its potential is especially clear in chronic disease management, where timely access to medication can determine health outcomes.
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Receives Funding

November 21, 2025 - Rocktown Now
The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham recently announced that a total of $182,411 was awarded to area nonprofit organizations for its 2025-2026 Community Grants cycle. The Blue Ridge Free Clinic was a recipient of the Alvin J. Baird Jr. Fund and received $27,095 to support the expansion of onsite dental services. 
 

Arlington Healthcare Leaders Warn of Surging Need

November 20, 2025 - ARLNow
Expected spikes in health care premiums, cuts to Medicaid funding and tighter eligibility requirements have left Arlington social services scrambling to meet an incoming surge in need. Healthcare leaders are looking for ways to streamline operations where they can, while bracing for a rising tide of casework. “Health care costs don’t go away when we don’t address them,” Arlington Free Clinic CEO Lesley Daigle said. “Health care needs don’t go away when they’re unmet. They just get worse.” The Arlington Free Clinic, which provides health care to about 1,600 people every year, is cushioned from some of the more severe cuts because 92% of its funding comes from private donations. All the same, as about 10,000 Arlington residents rely on Medicaid expansion, Daigle said she’s expecting a big increase in Arlington’s uninsured population — with inevitable impacts on safety net programs.
 

Power of Change Supports Local Clinics

November 20, 2025 - Rappahannock News
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative has announced The Power of Change program award recipients for the year which includes two area free clinics. Madison Free Clinic received $5,000 for the Healthy Teeth Healthy Heart initiative for uninsured and underinsured individuals while the Greene Care Clinic received $4,000 to provider computer upgrades needed to protect patient data. This funding is made possible by REC members who give voluntarily to support loca nonprofits focused on addressing areas of need most important to Cooperative members. 

Health Wagon to Provide 500 Thanksgiving Meals to Those in Need

November 17, 2025 - WJHL11
The Health Wagon, with help from its partners, plans to provide 500 ready-to-cook Thanksgiving meals to those in need in Dickenson County on Thursday. The event will take place at the Dickenson Center for Education and Research, 818 Happy Valley Drive in Clintwood, from 2–4 p.m. The meals are thanks to “generous” support from the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, Anthem HealthKeeprs, Luanne Picinich, Humana, and other donors and regional food partners. In addition to the ready-to-cook meals, families will receive additional food resources and free items on a first-come, first-served basis. “This is more important now than ever,” Dr. Teresa Tyson, President and CEO of The Health Wagon, said in a release. “Families across our region are facing tremendous challenges, and being able to provide a Thanksgiving meal is a way to bring comfort, dignity, and hope during the holiday season.”
 

VDAF Partners with Bland Ministry Center & Dental Clinic for Free Veteran Dental Care

November 14, 2025 - WDBJ7
Veterans in Southwest Virginia received free dental care Friday during a clinic held at Big Walker Dentistry by the Bland Ministry Center in partnership with the Virginia Dental Association Foundation. The event brought dentists and volunteers from across the state to provide cleanings, X-rays, extractions, and other essential services at no cost. Organizers say the effort began on a small scale but quickly expanded when they realized how many veterans needed accessible dental care. “I noticed during our first free extraction event in March that several of the folks coming through were veterans,” said Dr. Laura Settles, lead dentist at Big Walker Dentistry. “I thought about what we might be able to offer to give back to those people who have served our country and need access to dental care. It’s time we did something to take care of them.” Bland Ministry Center & Dental Clinic has increased its dental outreach over the years. With demand growing, the organization opened Big Walker Dentistry in 2019 to better serve Wythe County and surrounding areas.
 

Dental Clinic Continues Work to Serve Patients with Special Needs

November 12, 2025 - Free Press
The Augusta Regional Dental Clinic in Fishersville is working to accommodating patients with sensory sensitivities, behavioral challenges and physical disabilities as an accredited Center for Inclusive Dentistry. The non-profit staff received more than 400 hours of specialized training in the last 12 months to better meet the challenges of patients with autism, Down syndrome, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mobility challenges and other developmental and cognitive conditions. The clinic also created a sensory-friendly and accessible space designed to help further reduce barriers to care. It has partnered with more than 25 other nonprofit organizations, schools and caregivers as part of the outreach to special populations and served more than 750 patients with special oral healthcare needs. “Becoming a Center for Inclusive Dentistry means more than just a certification — it’s a commitment to making sure every smile belongs,” said Sophie Parson, ARDC executive director.
 

NOVA ScriptsCentral Receives Equity Rx Funding

November 5, 2025 - Cardinal Health
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC), with funding from the Cardinal Health Foundation, announced nine Equity Rx grantees to help the uninsured and underinsured access their prescription medications, including NOVA ScriptsCentral in Falls Church, Virginia. “Through the Equity Rx program, we are not only improving access to essential medications but are also strengthening the very foundation of community health,” said Nicole Lamoureux, President and CEO of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. “We are deeply grateful to the Cardinal Health Foundation for their continued partnership and investment in equitable care for patients who often have nowhere else to turn.”
 

Rep. Subramanyam Visits Loudoun Free Clinic

October 30, 2025 - Loudoun Now
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam met with several organizations to hear firsthand how layoffs, funding cuts, and the shutdown are impacting the community. Loudoun Free Clinic Executive Director Ashley Hunnicut said her team is getting ready for an influx of patients. When asked by Subramanyam how soon she expects that, Hunnicut said it will be different for each family. “It depends on the people. It depends on their savings, how much money they have in savings, and how long they'll keep buying their COBRA,” Hunnicut said. “That's what I think, and that's Medicaid aside. That's becoming unemployed and not finding another job that gives you employer-sponsored health insurance.”Families are seeing costs for health insurance increase as they either have to pay for the entire plan themselves or enroll in more expensive programs through their employers. 
 

Richmond Clinics Receive Health Equity Funds

October 30, 2025 - Free Press
The Richmond Health Equity Fund is providing $135,000 in continued funding to community organizations that address health disparities across the city. The grants will support programs focused on health care access, chronic disease, food security, maternal and child health, and mental and behavioral health. Organizations receiving continued funding include CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, which provides chronic disease care and education for uninsured or Medicaid patients in Richmond, and Health Brigade, which offers testing, treatment and care for syphilis, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV to low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents. 
 

Sinclair Health Clinic's Pharmacy Now Filling Prescriptions Statewide

October 24, 2025 - Winchester Star
The pharmacy at Sinclair Health Clinic, which provides affordable medical care to Winchester-area residents without insurance, has partnered with Rx Partnership's Access to Medication Program (AMP) to ensure that patients across the commonwealth will continue to receive their prescriptions following the June 12 closure of the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg, which previously served 15 partner clinics. The AMP program provides free or low-cost prescription medications to patients in Virginia who do not have insurance. In fiscal year 2025, AMP delivered 26,411 prescriptions valued at over $12 million to more than 3,400 patients. Many of those patients were previously served by the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, but it closed in June due to a lack of funding. "Access to affordable medication impacts us all," Sinclair Health Clinic Executive Director Mercedes Abbet said in the release. "When people regularly take their medication, it means fewer hospital visits, lower healthcare costs and healthier families who can work, support their loved ones and thrive."
 

Healing Hands Health to Host Veterans Dental Day

October 23, 2025 - WJHL11
Healing Hands Health is hosting a one-day free dental day for veterans featuring free exams, x-rays, fillings, and extractions. Veterans are welcome to participate and will also be able to participate in a resource fair providing access to workforce, housing, transportation and much more. 
 

Health Brigade Needs to Sell its Building in Wake of Federal Budget Cuts

October 23, 2025 - RadioIQ
Richmond’s Health Brigade, formerly known as Fan Free Clinic, is looking to sell their building in the wake of federal budget cuts. But leadership at the facility is hoping the sale can keep things running at the health care organization that first opened its doors in 1970 as the first free clinic in Virginia. Karen Legato, executive director at Health Brigade, said the sheer mass of cuts, and increases in free clinic service demand, have become too much for their 55 year old free clinic. “I often call us the safety net of the safety net,” Legato said. She hopes the sale of the property at the top of Richmond’s Museum District will allow them to keep providing services and hopefully better meet demand, especially as federal cuts to health care subsidies may drive even more Virginians to free clinics. Half the money from the sale would shore up the current challenges, the rest will cover the cost of services that are currently awaiting grant funds. In the meantime, Legato isn’t giving up. Legato said Health Brigade has been in their current building since 1998. They hope to purchase a new facility closer to the lower income patients they serve.
 

Virginia Patients, Nonprofits Cope with Loss of Federal Funding for HIV/AIDS

October 22, 2025 - VA Mercury
Health Brigade case manager Keisha West stressed that obtaining necessary medication becomes lower priority for people when housing and food instability arises. Ryan White funding has meant critical wraparound services to HIV patients, she said. “Rent is going up and people’s pay isn’t keeping up,” she said. “People come to us for help and Ryan White-funded clinics are one of the few places people can come. Even if they have Medicaid, people’s finances are stretched.” For HIV positive people, medication is key to maintaining livelihood and preventing viral spread. The federal funding cuts are hitting West’s clients, however, as she said about half of them have dropped off in recent months. She hopes that the broader public deeply considers the various public health funding shifts and who they directly affect. But as Ryan White losses impact HIV-positive communities in Virginia, West noted that forthcoming Medicaid changes will influence funding to hospitals and stand to affect the broader public in the years ahead. “People may not really think about these things until it hits them,” she said. 
 

Piedmont Smiles Provides Free Dental Care to Nearly 300 Patients

October 21, 2025 - Fauquier Now
Hundreds of community members filled the halls and gym of Liberty High School Saturday for the fourth annual Piedmont Smiles, a one-day, pop-up dental clinic dedicated to providing free, quality care to those who need it most. Beyond the numbers—over 280 patients served this year thanks to hundreds of volunteers—were the stories of relief, gratitude and connection that defined the day, organizers said. Patients received X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and other vital treatments, all provided at no cost by volunteer dentists, hygienists and medical professionals from across Virginia and Washington, D.C. 
 

Virginia Hospitals, Clinics Brace for Federal Health Care Changes

October 21, 2025 - VA Mercury
While hospitals brace for patient strain, free clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers have already been triaging matters. Both entities have long considered themselves the “safety net to the safety net” and their struggles pre-date federal funding fallouts of the past year and forthcoming years. Virginia’s free clinics, for instance, have asked state lawmakers to give them a funding boost as they’ve experienced surges in patients but stagnant funding from the state.  “We’re all in this together as the safety net,” he said. “Hospitals certainly want to lean on the free clinics to meet people at the primary care level to reduce emergency room care. Our clinics are happy to help where they can but they’re strapped as it is.”
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Offering Mental Health Counseling

October 16, 2025 - WMRA
The Blue Ridge Free Clinic’s counseling services were previously outsourced in the community, and medications available through the clinic’s pharmacy were the extent of those services on-site. "We’ve been offering medications since we opened four years ago, but counseling and medications together are much more effective at addressing mental health needs - and we know that mental health greatly impacts physical health," shares Family nurse practitioner Susan Adamson, one of Blue Ridge Free Clinic’s founders, where she also sees patients. Counseling at the clinic will begin next month, with two rooms for therapists to meet with individual patients as well as a group therapy room. Like the rest of the providers at Blue Ridge Free Clinic, therapists will be volunteers from the community, in addition to counselors in training with James Madison University’s Clinical Mental Health program.
 

Nonprofits That Make Up Arlington's Safety Net

October 10, 2025 - Arlington Magazine
Lesley Daigle had just finished giving a speech at a 2024 fundraiser for the Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) when a caterer approached her and pointed to a woman across the room. “That’s my mother. She was a clinic patient 11 years ago,” the caterer said. “‘She had cancer and she is standing there alive today because of you.” Daigle had only recently joined the clinic as its CEO, but she says such stories are common at the 31-year-old nonprofit, which provides free medical care for uninsured county residents. In this case, quality health care helped a cancer survivor “provide a good home” for her daughter, Daigle says, putting her daughter on a path to launching her own catering business. “That is an incredible jump from somebody who couldn’t afford health care,” Daigle adds. “The fact that we can do that for families—that we can lift them up and provide a better life, for not only this generation, but the next generation—is very significant.”
 

Without a Net: RVA Healthcare

October 8, 2025 - VPM
Local health clinics care for our most vulnerable residents. But federal and state funding cuts have them facing huge budget shortfalls, just as thousands of Virginians are projected to lose healthcare coverage. How sick is this going to make us here in Richmond? Hear from Health Brigade's Karen Legato as she walks us through recent changes and their impact.
 

Gloucester Mathew Care Clinic Hosts Oktoberfest

October, 8, 2025 - Gazette Journal
The Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic host the ninth annual Oktoberfest. Over 110 attended this year’s Oktoberfest, and together raised about $52,000 for patient care at the clinic. On Sunday, the following Clinic Heroes were recognized: Charry Hudgins, a longtime clinic staff member who retired in 2022 only to return as the clinic’s outreach coordinator; clinic volunteer Gerald Britt; Chesapeake Bank, and Sentara Health System. Clinic Executive Director Arlene Armentor introduced the clinic’s planned giving society as well at the event. Named “The 97” for the year of the clinic's inception, the planned giving fund was formally introduced to provide long lasting support health care services for the uninsured and underinsured in the region. Several community members were inducted into The 97 this year.
 

Greene Care Clinic Celebrating 20 Years of Providing Care

October 10, 2025 - NewsBreak
Every day, hardworking Americans face the impossible choice between paying for health insurance and covering life’s basic necessities. For those who are self-employed, working part-time, or employed by small businesses, affordable health coverage is often out of reach. Without it, preventive care gets postponed or skipped altogether — leading to serious health issues that could have been treated early. The Greene Care Clinic exists to change that. For over 20 years, our volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical staff have been providing free weekly medical care to the people of Greene County who fall through the cracks of our health care system.
 

Charlottesville Free Clinic 'A Model for What all of Healthcare Could Be'

September 26, 2025 - CVILLE Righ Now
Emily Little worked as an emergency room nurse before taking a position at the Charlottesville Free Clinic about three years ago. During a roundtable discussion about the clinic’s work and about national healthcare issues, Little told Sen. Tim Kaine what she’s found in her new job is, 'a model for what all of healthcare could be.' “This is what it could look like if we had universal care,” Little said. “It’s possible. We have a nursing shortage and also a physician shortage because they’re not doing the kind of stuff they used to be able to do. But we’re doing it here. It’s possible.”
 

Peer Recovery Program Launches at Shenandoah Community Health Clinic

September 26, 2025 - WHSV3
The Shenandoah Community Health Clinic held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community event in Woodstock to celebrate the official launch of its new peer recovery program, the Hope Initiative. Made possible by support provided by Anthem Medicaid, the program allows those struggling with substance use disorder to receive assistance from peer recovery specialists like Jessica Christian, to help patients in the recovery process. Specialists like Christian assure those going through the process that they are not alone in their journey to overcoming substance abuse, as every recovery specialist has been through the journey to recovery themselves. “We’re extremely thankful for the grant and for those who support our clinic and all the new things that we’re able to offer to those in the community with dental, behavioral health and medical,” Christian said. “It’s amazing the expansion that we have, and I’m excited to see what more is to come.
 

Senator Kain Discusses Healthcare at Charlottesville Free Clinic

September 25, 2025 - 29News
Senator Tim Kaine stopped in Charlottesville on Thursday, September 25, to hear directly from doctors, nurses, and patients about the challenges facing health care in Virginia. At a roundtable held at the Charlottesville Free Clinic, providers pressed him on Medicaid cuts, staffing shortages, and what those mean for families who rely on free clinics. For many, it was a chance to tell Senator Kaine face-to-face how policy decisions are straining local clinics. While Kaine says he knew about these issues, hearing them up close hit differently. Clinics from Greene and Orange counties joined pressing him on medicaid cuts and staffing shortages. Kaine says he knew the issues were serious, but hearing them face-to-face made it personal.
 

Healing Hands Health Receives Donation for Renovations

September 25, 2025 - WHJL11
Eastman Credit Union recently presented a check for $100,000 to Healing Hands Health to help with clinic renovations. The "Building Health, Inspiring Hope" campaign is being held to expand the clinic's healthcare offerings by renovating an adjacent building to its current facility. The clinic is renovating the second building to integrate medical and behavioral health under one roof. “We’re trying to help with the stigma, and we’re trying to help people through medication, through counseling,” Executive Director Helen Scott said. “We just want to do what we can to help our uninsured patients.” Renovations are about 75% completed, and builders expect to complete work in January and the clinic hopes to move in either by March.
 

CrossOver Healthcare is Bridging Gaps, Tackling Diabetes Disparities in Hispanic Community

September 20, 2025 - WRIC
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to shine a light on the health challenges that disproportionately affect this community, including type 2 diabetes. Every Tuesday and Thursday, you can find Dr. John Bucheit, a volunteer pharmacist, at the Crossover Healthcare Ministry, helping people manage their diabetes medication. “The language barrier can be really challenging. And so this is where we really need certified medical interpreters to help our patients and our clinicians communicate effectively with patients,” Bucheit said. Beyond language, other challenges include genetics, high rates of obesity, cultural barriers and the difficulty of navigating a complex healthcare system without insurance.
 

Brock Hughes Medical Center Marks 30 Years

September 17, 2025 - WFXR
Brock Hughes Medical Center celebrated 30 years of providing community health care services with a Roaring Twenties-themed fundraiser. The event, which was held on Saturday, September 13, “raised essential funds that will directly benefit patient care and programming at BHMC,” according to the press release. “We are deeply grateful for the community’s continued support,” said Stacey Linkous, Executive Director of BHMC. “This celebration wasn’t just a reflection of our past — it was a powerful step toward our future, ensuring we can continue expanding access to care for everyone who needs it.” The medical center provides services to residents in Bland and Wythe counties “regardless of insurance status, including Medicaid, Medicare, and private/commercial plans.”
 

Orange County Free Clinic Combatting Food Insecurity Amid Federal Funding Cuts

September 16, 2025 - Charlottesville Tomorrow
The Orange County Free Clinic is partnering with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to offer a food pharmacy and expand access to healthy food in the county. Julia, a longtime Orange County resident and mother of three, is one of more than 200 community members who have already benefitted from the new Orange County food pharmacy. Although she is employed, Julia said she sometimes experiences food insecurity due to unreliable work hours. She has visited other food pantries in the past, but that same fluctuating work schedule can make it hard for her to utilize rural pantries with limited hours of operation. At the food pharmacy, Julia can schedule her visits to coincide with her doctors’ appointments, cutting down on time missed from work. She and her children sometimes visit the food pharmacy as a family, where they learn how to develop new habits, like choosing low-sodium canned goods and other healthy choices. 
 

ODU Community Care Achieves Gold Standard

September 10, 2025 - ODU News
Tammy Speerhas, D.N.P., director of ODU Community Care, said the Community Care team has worked diligently to strengthen administrative policies and procedures, bolster patient-care protocols and build relationships with other free clinics in Virginia and nationwide. An improved data-collection process has enriched the team’s ability to measure performance and health outcomes. Community Care has implemented an integrated behavioral health program — including full evaluation, medical management and in-person/virtual counseling — as well as added dental services to two clinic sites. Speerhas said the integration with EVMS also enhanced the team’s mission and vision and provided access to resources from the EVMS Foundation. ODU Community Care, an award-winning program of the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at ODU, follows an integrated care model that includes holistic care to address both the medical and social needs of patients. Clinics are led by advanced practice nursing faculty and run by students.  
 

HOPE Initiative Targets Homeless & College Students

September 9, 2025 - WSLS10
September is National Recovery Month. All month long, the Bradley Free Clinic’s HOPE Initiative is stepping up outreach to reach people often overlooked—those experiencing homelessness and college students—by distributing Narcan. “Right now, the whole theme is restoring aspects of life for every individual. That’s the theme of Recovery Month. And it’s so important, that sense of community and that sense just having that support there of somebody that’s gonna hold your hand,” said Behavioral Health Department Manager Wendy Dudley with the Bradley Free Clinic. This month, the group plans to distribute 500 bags filled with Narcan and essential hygiene items, including toothpaste, wipes, and deodorant at several homeless encampments and to students at Virginia Western Community College, Hollins University and Roanoke College.
 

Loudoun Free Clinic to Host Fundraiser

September 9, 2025 - Times-Mirror
The annual Boots, Beer and BBQ Fundraiser to benefit the Loudoun Free Clinic will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at Riverside on the Potomac in Lucketts. The event includes dinner catered by Monk’s BBQ, a silent auction, line dancing lessons and live music provided by Maria and Marcus of The Reflex. Last year’s event raised $70,000, directly supporting the clinic’s mission of providing medical care to low-income, uninsured residents in Loudoun County, according to Loudoun Free Clinic’s Executive Director Ashley Hunnicutt. “Our patients are hardworking adults ages 19 and older who live throughout Loudoun County and cannot afford health care coverage,” she shared. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, we are able to care for more than 1,200 patients every year — and events like Boots, Beer & BBQ make that possible.”
 

Arlington Free Clinic is Addressing Behavioral Health Needs

September 8, 2025 - ARLMag
Arlington Free Clinic first launched its behavioral health program in 2001 with an emphasis on psychiatric, medical-based services. Over time, the scope expanded as it became clear that many patients needed counseling to manage symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma. Today, more than half of AFC’s patients screen positive for an unaddressed behavioral health condition. Many of these patients present with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, which interferes with their ability to manage their overall health and care for themselves and their families. The Behavioral Health program is entering an exciting stage of growth and refinement. Building on strong foundations, our goal is to continue to expand access to counseling, psychiatric care and care coordination for patients who face significant barriers to mental health services. Key priorities for the future include integration with primary care, culturally responsive care, sustainable community partnerships and outcome and impact tracking.
 

Potomac Health Foundation Grant Supports GMU Center for Community Mental Health

September 8, 2025 - GMU News
George Mason University’s Center for Community Mental Health (CCMH) recently received a grant from the Potomac Health Foundation that will directly support its Stepped Mental Health Care Program. “Funding for the center is important because there are so many people in the community who need quality care at a rate they can afford,” Martina Jackson Green said with the Human Service Alliance of Greater Prince William. “This center provides accessible care that meets community members where they are. Language, cost, and transportation are often barriers to service. This program has accounted for those barriers. I think the center meets the needs of our community in a lot of ways.” 
 

Culmore Clinic Finds Temporary Space

September 4, 2025 - Annadale Today
The Culmore Clinic, a nonprofit healthcare facility that serves lower-income adults, is moving to a temporary space in Falls Church while its current location, at First Christian Church, is being renovated. Eventually, the clinic will move into Kindred Crossing, an affordable housing project for seniors to be built next door to First Christian Church, at 6165 Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners. “We are very pleased to share that the leadership at Christ Crossman United Methodist Church in Falls Church voted to welcome us into their beautiful church while we wait for our new permanent home to be completed,” the Culmore Clinic announced.
 

Health Wagon Receives Grant for Affordable Veterinarian Clinic

September 2, 2025 - WJHL11
The Health Wagon has received grant funding to facilitate a veterinary clinic and outreach center in Wise County. Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced the latest Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) awards, with the veterinary clinic among the five transformative initiatives selected to revitalize former coal mining sites across the region. The funds will support a new 4,200-square-foot nonprofit facility that will provide affordable animal care for families across Southwest Virginia and beyond. The Health Wagon has a long history of organizing large-scale veterinary missions. Since 2017, these events have provided more than 6,400 no-cost procedures to animals across Wise, Dickenson, and Russell counties.
 

Free Clinic of Central Virginia Undergoes Reconstruction Following Fire

August 28, 2025 - ABC13 
The Free Clinic of Central Virginia in downtown Lynchburg is undergoing reconstruction after a fire last year left its offices coated in soot, necessitating the replacement of most medical equipment to maintain sterility. Dr. Derrick Brown, the clinic's executive director, expressed optimism about the progress. "This is a really exciting time and a time of hope here at the Free Clinic. We are starting to see ourselves move past the demo phase and actually start the rebuild phase," he said. "Right now, we are in the framing part of it. So walls are going up, doors are getting placed back in. The nonprofit, which provides healthcare to those unable to afford it, is currently operating from two temporary locations: the dental clinic on Old Forest Road and the medical office at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church on Fort Avenue. The clinic hopes to return to its original location between December and February. 
 

GoochlandCares Buys Neighboring Property for Expansion

August 28, 2025 - BizSense
GoochlandCares announced this week its recent purchase of a 2.4-acre property that’s adjacent to its current 3.8-acre headquarters and campus at 2999 River Road West. The nonprofit, which provides multiple social and health care services to Goochland County, acquired the new site at 3009 River Road in April for $1.3 million, but hadn’t disclosed it publicly until this week. GoochlandCares CEO Andrea Ahonen said the organization was running out of room at its existing 20,000-square-foot building, which it built in 2018 to bring all of its 12 services under one roof. “We’ve outgrown that space and need a larger place to meet. We want to see how (the new property) can be a place for the whole Goochland community to come and congregate,” Ahonen said. 
 

HOPE Initiative Helping Those with Substance Use Recovery

August 26, 2025 - WDBJ7
This week, the world will observe Overdose Awareness Day. The annual campaign to end overdose deaths is held on August 31. Here in Virginia, nearly 150,000 people suffer from a substance use disorder, according to the latest data from Virginia Commonwealth University and at least six Virginians died of opioid overdoses every day on average in 2021. It’s estimated the opioid epidemic cost Virginians about $5 billion that same year. To support individuals struggling with addiction, Virginia’s free and charitable clinics are replicating the HOPE Initiative pioneered by the Bradley Free Clinic in clinics across the state.
 

Marilyn Metzler Nurses the Underinsured Back to Health

August 21, 2025 - The Richmonder

“It’s a very rewarding place to be,” share Marilyn Metzler. “Not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t hug me. Patients are grateful for care.” She’s been a fixture at CrossOver Healthcare Ministry for nearly 30 years as a “Nursing Coordinator” working diligently to put out fires and help patients receive care. Metzler’s zeal for helping others began in Alabama, where she grew up on her parents’ farm. Her father was a pastor, and their family would frequently share produce with their neighbors. Metzler jokes that she’s always been a nurse — when she was a young girl, her father encouraged her to pursue nursing because of her innate desire to nurture.
 

Bradley Free Clinic Hosts First-Ever Benefit Concert

August 20, 2025 - WFIR
The future looks somewhat murky right now for many nonprofits that rely to some extent on federal funding. That scenario has led to the first-ever benefit concert for the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke as a creative way to offset after funding losses.
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Launches Mental Health & Dental Services

August 19, 2025 - RocktownNow
A free clinic in Harrisonburg is expanding its services to include mental health and dental care. The Blue Ridge Free Clinic recently introduced a new facility next to its location at 831 Martin Luther King Jr Way in Harrisonburg as it rolls out mental health and dental services to patients. The Blue Ridge Free Clinic serves as a “bridge to health” for anyone in the Harrisonburg area with unmet medical needs who does not have a healthcare provider. The nonprofit offers primary care, chronic care management, prescription assistance and flu vaccinations, in addition to its new dental and mental health services.
 

Shenandoah Community Health Center Launches Peer Recovery Program

August 18, 2025 - WHSV3
The Shenandoah Community Health Clinic has launched a new peer recovery program to support adults struggling with addiction by connecting them to specialists who have navigated substance use themselves.  The HOPE Initiative, modeled after a program pioneered by the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke, brings certified peer recovery specialists into Shenandoah Community Health Clinic’s behavioral health services. Peer recovery specialists provide non-clinical support by helping individuals identify resources and discover personalized recovery paths. “My role as a peer recovery specialist is to help people struggling with addiction and mental health gain resources and discover their own path,” said Jessica Christian, a certified peer recovery specialist at the clinic. “Everyone’s recovery looks different, and I’m here to support them along the way.”
 

Nonprofits Can't Fill All the Gaps of a Shrinking Safety Net

August 16, 2025 - Daily Press
Nonprofits have long augmented and filled gaps in our government’s safety nets. But today, as federal support systems shrink or stall, these organizations are being pushed nearer a breaking point, being asked to do more than ever — often with fewer staff, tighter budgets and rising demand for their services. Across the country, vital government programs are being scaled back. Medicaid reimbursements are being reduced. Funding for the arts, education and housing is uncertain. Food assistance programs face additional cuts. And in almost every case, nonprofits are absorbing the impact. We need a more sustainable approach — one that blends charitable support with legislative policy and civic participation. Otherwise, we risk leaving nonprofits to shoulder more than is fair or feasible.
 

Healing Hands Health Celebrates Partnership Milestone

August 14, 2025 - WCYB5
At Healing Hands Health, it's about more than just filling cavities their mission is to train the next generation of dentists, all while giving free or low cost care to patients who need it the most, and now organization leaders are celebrating a special anniversary. Helen Scott is the executive director of Healing Hands Health she explains that the partnership with the University of Tennessee's Health Science Center College of Dentistry is crucial for our region. "We are so proud that we have trained so many students while helping our community at the same time, which is such a tremendous need in our region," said Scott. In the past ten years, students have helped 16 thousand patients at Healing Hands, and some even decided to make our community their home.
 

Medicaid Changes Could Cost Thousands of Virginians Coverage

August 13, 2025 - Fauquier Times
A federal budget bill, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill and signed into law by President Trump on July 4, could cause hundreds of thousands of Virginians to lose Medicaid insurance coverage and cost the state's hospitals as much as $2 billion annually. The changes threaten to unravel a health care safety net that took years of bipartisan compromise to build. Dr. Courtney Ashby, a dentist who chairs the Fauquier Free Clinic's board, said the twice-yearly eligibility verification requirement in the law could cause many to lose benefits because many low-wage workers are often employed in part-time or seasonal jobs, making it difficult to meet the law’s demands to keep proving they are working. "Some of our patients are working multiple jobs to try to climb out of poverty,” she said. “When you're asking for constant check-ins with employment records and everything like that, that's a huge paperwork burden."
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Expands Services

August 12, 22025 - WHSV3
The Blue Ridge Free Clinic has added a mental and dental clinic annex to their building, providing a workspace for their dental and mental health workers to take care of patients next to the clinic. Staff said they hope to provide more services to those in need in all areas of their lives. “Our mission statement is that we provide holistic care for all of our patients, and that means body, mind, spirit, soul, and teeth ... this is a dream come true,” said Susan Adamson, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Blue Ridge Free Clinic Executive Director. Adamson said that serving people more comprehensively is something that the clinic finds vital. “At this clinic, we don’t just look at somebody’s mouth and take care of that, or just look at their blood pressure, we do an assessment for all of their needs when they come in that are related to health, and try to address them, Adamson said.
 

Fauquier Free Clinic Adds Pediatric Primary Care Services

August 11, 2025 - Fauquier Times
The Fauquier Free Clinic has tried never to turn away a sick child, and now it has an extra set of hands to help kids stay healthy. Beverlyn Silberbauer, a family nurse practitioner, now offers pediatric primary care every Wednesday. “Beverlyn has had two shifts here, I think, and the schedule's been full,” said Rob Marino, executive director of the clinic. “People are thrilled. People are coming and giving hugs, and tears in eyes and stuff, just everything you could hope for.” Marino said the need for child primary care has been increasing over the last few years, and tends to peak just before the school year starts. “I'm very passionate about this community because I live and work here; I'm dedicated to what I do,” Silberbauer said. “What truly motivates me is the opportunity to support not just the children but their entire families.” Silberbauer said she was honored to join the Fauquier Free Clinic and said she is excited to use her fluency in Spanish to reach as many children as possible. “We know that health care is most effective when the clinician and the patient can speak in the language that is most comfortable for the patient,” Marino said. “So many of the children we are trying to support come from Spanish-speaking families that we felt it was important to have a clinical provider who was bilingual.”
 

Rappahannock Residents at Risk from Medicaid Cuts

August 2, 2025 - Rappahannock News
Rappahannock County and other rural areas are likely to be hit the hardest by cuts in Medicaid, the health insurance program that more than one in five Americans depend on. “The consensus is that between 300,000 and 400,000 Virginians will lose coverage,” said Rob Marino, executive director of the Fauquier Free Clinic in Warrenton, which also serves Rappahannock County, where 15.3% of residents, or 1,144 people, count on the program to pay for doctor visits, pharmaceuticals and longer-term treatments. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted into law earlier this month, choreographs requirements expected to push millions of Americans out of Medicaid — either because they’re found ineligible under new work requirements, or because they quit, overwhelmed by the paperwork demands. Rufus Phillips, the chief executive of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, called the law, “the biggest cut to the health care safety net in decades.” 
 

Federal Funding Cuts Leave Local Nonprofits Worrying About the Future

July 31, 2025 - Winchester Star
In the United States, physicians are bound by the Hippocratic Oath that requires them to act in a patient’s best interest, cause no harm and maintain confidentiality. However, the Trump administration wants to stop nonprofit healthcare agencies from serving undocumented immigrants, which appears to be in direct contrast to the oath doctors have sworn to uphold. Dr. Mercedes Abbet, a NATF member and executive director of Sinclair Health Clinic in Winchester, said that puts her in an impossible position. Her nonprofit clinic, which provides free and reduced-cost medical services to local residents who don’t have medical insurance, treats every qualified individual who walks through its doors. Sinclair Health Clinic does not receive direct financial support from the federal government, but it does receive state assistance from programs funded by the feds. If the clinic doesn’t comply with the Trump administration’s policies, the state assistance could dry up.
 

Charlottesville Man running '40 for 40" for the Free Clinic

July 30, 2025 - CVILLE
A local Charlottesville man has come up with a selfless way to celebrate his upcoming 40th birthday. A local Charlottesville man has come up with a selfless way to celebrate his upcoming 40th birthday. Local runner Jonathan Smith, set to turn 40 on Saturday, will be running 40 miles for each of his year, to benefit the Charlottesville Free Clinic. “I was like, ‘Can I do 40? Yeah, let’s do it and let’s do it for a good cause,” Smith told 106.1 The Corner. “I’m confident in being able to complete (it).” Smith is encouraging people to visit the clinic’s website and make a donation, with the note “40 for 40.” “Everything is going directly to them,” Smith said.
 

Lackey Clinic Partners with Virtual Free Mental Health Clinic

July 28, 2025 - WY Daily
Lackey Clinic in Yorktown has joined it as a referring free and charitable clinic partner of the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative, a statewide virtual free mental health clinic and workforce development program. “We’re so grateful to our clinic partners and volunteers who have helped create an innovative structure that is putting mental health services within the reach of Virginians who otherwise could not afford or access it,” said Mara Servaites, Executive Director of VTMHI. “It’s the first model we know of in the U.S. with a dual mission of providing free mental health services to medically underserved populations virtually while also supporting the next generation of mental health providers with the licensure process so they can enter the workforce faster.”
 

Western Tidewater Free Clinic's New Partnership to Expand Mental Health Services

July 26 2025 - 13NewsNow
A new partnership is bringing expanded mental health services to Franklin, aimed at reaching more residents in need of care. Starting next month, patients of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic (WTFC) will have access to counseling, mental health assessments and support services at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s Western Tidewater Branch in Franklin. The initiative is a collaboration between WTFC, the Foodbank and The Up Center, a regional mental health provider. The program is designed to improve access by eliminating barriers like transportation and stigma, offering care in a setting where many residents already receive essential services. “Our mission has always been to improve the health and well-being of our community, a vision shared with these two incredible safety net agencies,” said Ashley Greene, executive director of Western Tidewater Free Clinic. “Partnering with the Foodbank and The Up Center allows us to provide much-needed mental health resources and meet our patients where they are.”
 

Medicaid Cuts Will Devastate Rural Virginians

July 25, 2025 - CBS19
State Senator Creigh Deeds joined community leaders in Charlottesville to discuss Medicaid cuts and its impact on rural Virginians. Dr. Andy Wolf with the Charlottesville Free Clinic shared that what he sees every day when caring for uninsured patients is a small glimpse of what's in store for more Americans if these Medicaid cuts become permanent. "When folks don't have primary care and they can't afford care they tend to wait until things get bad, and when things get bad, they often have no choice but to go to the emergency department. Emergency departments do have to take care of patients that present there. It's a law. What happens is they get billed. They may not be able to afford that bill and then they get into medical bankruptcy," he said. 
 

Tens of Thousands of Virginians Could Lose Health Insurance if Tax Credits Expire

July 25, 2025 - Cardinal News
Free and charitable clinics in Virginia are scrambling to expand capacity in preparation for a wave of newly uninsured patients who previously relied on the health insurance marketplace. Since most free clinics rely heavily on private donations, finding the resources to meet that demand is difficult, said Rufus Phillips, CEO of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Currently, the state’s 71 free clinics serve a total of 110,000 Virginians. Many of those clinics are already at or near capacity, Phillips said. With the addition of work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, another influx of uninsured patients is expected in 2027. Demand has already been growing steadily. At the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke, staff treated around 1,200 individuals annually before the pandemic. Now, that number is quickly approaching 4,000, according to Janine Underwood, the clinic’s CEO. Underwood, who has worked at the clinic for a decade, said the past six months marked the first time she’s seen waitlists for services. With looming federal policy changes, she said those lists will only grow longer.
 

A Vital Lifeline: Health Wagon Weekend Clinics Provided Care to 1400

July 24, 2025 - Herald Courier
Hundreds received free health care last weekend during the Move Mountains medical mission during its first year on the Health Wagon’s Wise campus. About 1,400 people participated in receiving a wide range of services from physical exams to a range of tests to dental and eye care, organizers said. This is the seventh year of the mission, which is an extension of the former Remote Area Medical clinics held for years at the Wise County fairgrounds. “The success of the Move Mountains Medical Mission has become a vital lifeline for our region’s health care system for over 26 years — filling gaps in care, restoring health and proving that when we all collectively come together, no mountain is too high to climb for better health,” President and CEO Teresa Tyson said. No longer a singular event, the Health Wagon’s regular range of services and smaller medical events are helping address the region’s needs — as opposed to having thousands of people show up for a single weekend event, she said.
 

Shenandoah Community Health Clinic Launches Peer Recovery Program

July 22, 2025 NV Daily
A new initiative at the Shenandoah Community Health Clinic is working to connect adults struggling with addiction to recovery programs by leveraging the experiences of trained specialists who navigated substance use disorders themselves. The HOPE Initiative program connects those struggling with addiction with recovery services. Driven by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (trained individuals with lived experience), those in need receive the support required to navigate the complexities and difficulties of treatment and recovery. The PRS work collaboratively with the Shenandoah Community Health Clinic medical, behavioral health and dental team to provide one-stop integrated care to patients. Access to services is free for patients and open to any over the age of 18.
 

Virginia Health Care Foundation Awards VA Free Clinics

July 16, 2025 - VHCF
The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) has awarded $814,167 in grants to 13 nonprofit organizations throughout Virginia to  increase access to behavioral health, medical and dental care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Grant recipients include the Bradley Free Clinic, Fauquier Free Clinic, Free Clinic of Powhatan, Healing Hands Health Center, and Northern Neck Middlesex Free Health Clinic. “We’re honored to partner with organizations across the Commonwealth to continue to deliver needed health care to Virginia’s uninsured and medically underserved,” said Rachel Rees, VHCF’s CEO “From behavioral health services in Roanoke, to expanded dental care in Southwest Virginia, these investments will increase access to needed health care across Virginia. I’m grateful for the partnerships making this work possible, helping ensure all Virginians have access to the health care they need.”
 

ODU Community Care Clinic Hosting Back to School Event

July 16, 2025, - ODU News
In Virginia, students entering public school for the first time must have a physical examination to enroll, and young athletes need a separate one to participate in sports. But for some families, these medical exams remain out of reach due to limited access to care and financial constraints. Old Dominion University’s Community Care team is stepping in to change that with their fourth annual back-to-school event offering free school and sports physicals for students in grades K-12. Tammy Speerhas, director of ODU Community Care, said this is an event her team looks forward to every year and that the mission extends beyond back-to-school exams. “In addition to free physicals, we also offer a range of services that address other barriers to wellness, including food insecurity,” she added. 
 

Free Clinic of Powhatan Receives $50K Harvest Grant

July 16, 2025 - VCU News
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center awarded its first $50,000 harvest grant to the Free Clinic of Powhatan. The funds will enable the clinic to provide a deeper level of intervention and support to its  “Eat Well, Be Well” nutrition program participants including group and individual behavioral health support to foster important behavioral changes, nutrition classes to supplement initial education classes, group grocery shopping and cooking classes to teach strategies for shopping and cooking on a budget, group walks to provide an opportunity for social engagement and exercise, and videos of the nutrition classes with Spanish subtitles – all targeting behavioral changes that will help prevent cancer. "We believe that health doesn’t start in the exam room - it starts with nutrition, knowledge, and community. Our ‘Eat Well, Be Well’ program is more than an education series; it’s an opportunity to highlight the everyday choices that can help prevent cancer and support healthier lives,” said Elizabeth Ream, executive director. “Through the harvest grant from Massey, our team will empower patients to set their own health goals using a value-based approach, while providing nutrition education and ongoing coaching along the way."
 

Virginia Free Clinics Brace for Healthcare Cuts

July 14, 2025 - WVTF
Virginia's 71 free and charitable clinics are bracing for a surge in patients after the passage of President Donald Trump's so-called "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which is projected to leave more than 300,000 Virginians uninsured. That's according to a report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee that was produced as the bill made its way toward passage. "The bill is going to put Medicaid at risk, and it's going to force thousands off of their coverage," says Janine Underwood is executive director of the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. "What's going to end up happening is they're going to funneling to nonprofit clinics like ours. We're already stretched beyond capacity. We're seeing overwhelming patient demand and with these additional cuts to Medicaid, it's going to force us to make some difficult decisions."
 

A New Normal: Federal Cuts Leave Nonprofits Facing Uncertainty

July 13, 2025 - Richmonder
In the wake of large-scale federal funding cuts, Richmond nonprofits and foundations are forced to prepare for a new normal, one in which primary funding sources are not guaranteed. Instead, nonprofits and local foundations are looking inward to the community for support, in the form of collaboration, combining resources, funding and advocacy. Karen Legato is the executive director of Health Brigade, Richmond’s oldest running free health care clinic. The clinic’s budget was reduced by more than 58 percent as a result of funding cuts from the recent H.R. 1, as well as funding cuts and federal employee terminations to the Ryan White Team, a federally funded HIV/AIDS healthcare program. It's difficult, Legato said, to know for certain the scale or the reliability of these funding cuts or funding opportunities. One program Health Brigade receives funding from included a clause assuming funding continues. 
 

Fredericksburg Christian Health Center Takes on New Patients

July 12, 2025 - Free Lance Star
Fredericksburg Christian Health Center (FCHC) has hired a new staff member to care for some of the former patients of the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic which closed last month. FCHC hired former Moss Free Clinic NP, Quintina Foster-Jackson, to help take care of influx of 500 patients.
 

Medicaid Cuts Could Impact Patients & Providers

July 10, 2025 - WDBJ7
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that’s been signed into law includes a massive reduction in federal spending in the Medicaid program. Total cuts amount to $880 billion over the next 10 years. Approximately 1.5 million Virginians utilize Medicaid for primary care, behavioral health, dental and other health services. Provisions in the bill would have far-reaching effects for Virginia’s free and charitable clinic network.
 

Cuts to Medicaid & Food Assistance Raise Alarm Bells for Arlington Safety Net

July 8, 2025 - ARLnow
Federal cuts to Medicaid and food-assistance programs are expected to place greater strain on Arlington’s most vulnerable residents and the social services that support them. Arlington County officials, health-care workers and nonprofits are still scrambling to determine the local impacts of the new federal spending bill approved last week. While existing nonprofits such as the Arlington Free Clinic and Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) help to fill gaps in the social safety net, experts warn that direct and downstream impacts of the new spending bill may put these organizations to the test. 

“It is too soon to fully grasp all the potential impacts the federal budget reconciliation bill will have on Arlington County, but the Board is deeply concerned that the legislation will have devastating effects on our residents and our community,” Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said. “The cuts to the social safety net are especially concerning as thousands of people in Arlington rely on these programs.”
 

Medicad Cuts Threaten Virginia's Hospitals & Free Clinics

July 8, 2025 - AXIOS Richmond
Virginia hospitals and Richmond-area free clinics are warning that the Medicaid cuts in President Trump's tax and spending bill could reduce access to care and potentially force closures. The changes threaten to trigger a domino effect across Virginia's health care system, local operators tell Axios — increasing costs, wait times and the risk of staff layoffs as hundreds of thousands lose coverage. "I'm not sure how folks are supposed to survive during all of this," says Karen Legato, head of Richmond free clinic Health Brigade. "Especially if you're working in the safety net where the needs are already overwhelming."
 

Funding Cuts From New Budget Bill Concerns Bradley Free Clinic

July 8, 2025 - WFIR News
The dust has barely settled on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” that’s now law but health care non-profits that count on Medicaid reimbursements for part of their revenue stream  like the Bradley Free Clinic are anxious about what’s ahead. "We're all trying to figure out how we're going to continue to provide these critical healthcare services to the community without the funding resources needed - it's very uncertain times," shares Janine Underwood, Executive Director of the clinic which has already seen a loss in funding. 
 

Free Clinic of Central Virginia Braces for Impact of Federal Spending Bill

July 4, 2025 - ABC13
Staff at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia are bracing for the impact of the federal spending bill after it was passed Thursday. Medicaid cuts could mean added stress on already stretched-thin resources. The Free Clinic provides medical and dental services for folks who don't have insurance or are underinsured. The passing of the spending bill with its proposed cuts leaves the clinic expecting to see an increase in patients.
 

Augusta Regional Dental Clinic Expansion Has Served More Patients

July 4, 2025 - Free Press
The Augusta Regional Dental Clinic expansion has allowed the Fishersville nonprofit to welcome approximately 2,000 new patients since last June. The clinic’s impact has resulted in shorter wait times and 1,250 appointments available every month. The expansion included four additional treatment rooms, an ADA-compliant operatory and enhanced workspace for clinical and administrative staff. “This expansion has been a game-changer for our community,” said Dr. Albert Schulz, ARDC clinical supervisor. “It has allowed us to serve more patients, accommodate individuals with mobility challenges and improve the overall flow and efficiency of care.”
 

Free Clinics Concerned That Medicaid Cuts Will Be Detrimental

July 3, 2025 - 13News
More than 300,000 Virginians may lose access to insurance, according to a study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, putting staff at local healthcare clinics on edge. Domenick Fini, with Chesapeake Care Clinic, said their free office serves those without insurance. It's regularly at capacity already, but he said he believes they're about to be flooded following the passage of President Trump's spending and tax cut bill, known as the "Big, Beautiful Bill."  “We could be overwhelmed. There’s going to be so many more Hampton Roads residents without Medicaid, that it would definitely be a burden on our clinic," said Fini. The sentiments are shared by Ashley Greene at Western Tidewater Free Clinic in Suffolk. Their hybrid clinic sees both uninsured and Medicaid patients. Her worry is that they will be unable to send patients to other providers for specialty care or further treatment. 
 

Moss Free Clinic Closing Down Operations

July 3, 2025 - Free Press
“I think there is something about this place that was just magical,” said Abbi Kopp, a 14-year pharmacist at the clinic who is now volunteering … “It did so many great things for such a long time.  When you go into the retail world or true healthcare, there are things that you’re not able to offer. Here, it may sound cheesy, but there’s something very special about this place, which makes me sad.” Kopp accepted a job at the Costco pharmacy after the clinic’s closure but finds time to volunteer for hours each day. She’s thankful for another employment opportunity but added: “I don’t think it’s possible to match the energy that we feel here. It was just the feeling from the patients, the gratitude that you were really doing something great for people. It’s more rewarding than a financial reward.” 
 

VA's Failure to Protect Crucial HIV/AIDS Services Sets Ominous Precedent

July 1, 2025 - VA Mercury
The federal Ryan White Program was created in 1990 as a safety net for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS. It was an outcome of congressional legislation that passed with bipartisan support, based on the recognition that medicine alone isn’t adequate for people living with a serious medical condition if their other needs aren’t met. The program is implemented in the commonwealth with its grant funding distributed to various organizations by the Virginia Department of Health. As of 2022, there were about 25,000 people living with HIV in Virginia. Community organizations funded through the Ryan White Program serve a significant number of these individuals. Part of the reason why the amount of people living with HIV in Virginia isn’t larger is due to the success of these organizations in testing, treatment, and support. 

Despite a long track record of success, the Ryan White funding allocated to community organizations is being severely undercut across Virginia, and it doesn’t seem to be entirely due to DOGE (or the “Department of Government Efficiency”) at the federal level. These cuts are a first test in how the Virginia state government may respond if Congress reduces access to the Affordable Care Act and eliminates Medicaid benefits for tens of thousands of low-income state residents. In a word: shamefully.
 

Pathways Free Specialty Clinic Co-Founder Retires

July 1, 2025 - VCUHealth News
This July, Dr. George Eapen will retire after fifty years of providing cardiology care, with most of his career spent at the VCU Health Pauley Health Center. What stands out most about Eapen’s career in medicine is his genuine care for patients who are least likely to have access to medical care. Eapen traces his passion to a single moment in Petersburg in 1995 wehn the gratitude of a patient who did not have health insurance fueled Eapen’s drive to help launch a free clinic in Petersburg, called Pathways, the very same year. The clinic provides free medical services to uninsured patients. “This moment changed my whole attitude about working with uninsured or economically challenged patients,” he said. “The love and respect you get from these patients are more dear to me than anything else in this life.” Eapen continued to volunteer with Pathways until 2022.
 

Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinics Earns Gold Rating

July 1, 2025 - Catholic Herald
Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinics earned the 2025 Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics Quality Standards Program for the sixth consecutive year. The rating attests that the clinics operate in accord with high standards of health and safety policies and procedures and have demonstrated a commitment to providing quality care to patients, ensuring the medically underserved have access to affordable health care. Operating two clinics in Manassas and Woodbridge, there are currently 22 volunteer providers offering care, including primary care physicians as well as oncology, optometry, physical therapy, neurology, gynecology, obstetrics, podiatry, dietetics, orthopedics and endocrinology. In 2024 the clinics provided free medical care — valued at $2.8 million — to 1,711 adult patients. Mother of Mercy continues to seek medical volunteers, as the number of patients requiring free medical care increases. By March 31, the clinics had already seen 1,733 patients.
 

Healing Hands Health Receives $100K Donation 

June 24, 2025 - WJHL11
A local clinic in Bristol that serves underinsured patients is expanding its facilities, thanks in part to a generous donation from Food City. The grocery chain presented Healing Hands Health with a check for $100,000 to aid in the clinic's expansion efforts. The capital campaign, titled "Building Health Inspiring Hope," is ongoing as the clinic works on constructing its new facility. Once completed, the clinic aims to significantly increase its capacity to serve more patients in need of daily assistance. "This space will allow us to significantly expand our services and be able to help more people in need. We have seen a huge increase in need for affordable behavioral health care," said Helen Scott, Executive Director of Healing Hands Health.
 

The Health Wagon is Transforming Rural Healthcare

June 24, 2025 - C-Suite Brief
The Health Wagon’s roots stretch back to 1980 when Sister Bernie Kenny, a Catholic nun from Massachusetts, began delivering care from the back of a Volkswagen Beetle. Over the decades, the organization has grown into a regional health system with two stationary clinics, four mobile units, a dental facility, and a pharmacy. Yet its mission remains unchanged: to deliver free, high-quality care directly to those who need it most in a region that suffers from systemic barriers such as extreme poverty, limited education, and a lack of public transportation. For many residents, healthcare is physically and financially out of reach. 
 

Free Clinic of Powhatan Hosts Inaugural Good Medicine 5K

June 16, 2025, WRIC8
The Free Clinic of Powhatan is welcoming residents across the Richmond community and surrounding counties to take part in its first-ever Good Medicine 5k and Fun Walk. The event is set to take off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 27 and seeks to invite runners, walkers and families to celebrate health, movement and community. “We believe that wellness doesn’t start in the exam room—it starts with movement, nutrition and community,” said executive director Elizabeth Ream. “Our ‘Good Medicine’ Walk/Run is more than a race — it’s a celebration of the small steps we can all take toward better living. While we exist to treat health conditions, we’re just as committed to helping people stay well.”
 

From Overdose to Outreach: Survivor is Saving Lives

June 13, 2025 - WDBJ7
Roanoke has been working to combat a rise in overdose emergencies, not just with medical response, but with connection. Overdose calls come in fast, and riding alongside Roanoke Fire & EMS is someone who understands what the person in the back is going through. “I truly understand what you’re going through because I struggled with addiction,” said Cynthia Haley, a Peer Recovery Specialist with the Bradley Free Clinic's HOPE Initiative. She’s also someone who’s survived addiction herself and is now working to help others who suffer from addiction. "Her compassion, motivation, and commitment are unmatched, and I've witnessed firsthand her ability to reach individuals in a way few others can," shares Capt. Jason Focht with Roanoke Fire & EMS. 
 

Northern Virginia Health Foundation Funds Clinics

June 12, 2025 - NOVA Health
Northern Virginia Health Foundation is supporting Arlington Free Clinic and NOVA ScriptsCentral with general operating grants of $380,000 each over three years to continue projects that deliver primary, oral, and behavioral health, as well as pharmacy services to communities in northern Virginia. It is also support four additional free clinic organizations with one-year grants of $25,000 each. This reflects the Foundation’s interest in broadening the health safety net in Northern Virginia by increasing access, deepening community partnerships, and remaining responsive to community needs. These four partners are Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic, Culmore Clinic, Loudoun Free Clinic, and George Mason University's Mason & Partners.
 

Moss Free Clinic Closes

June 12, 2025 - Free Press
The Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, which has cared for the region’s uninsured and indigent since 1993, will close its doors today. Moss medical director Dr. Patrick Neustatter confirmed to the Free Press that the clinic’s board of directors voted Wednesday night to cease operations in light of insurmountable financial difficulties.  Neustatter said the clinic is “making arrangements” for its patients and has had conversations with organizations including the health department, MWHC and other partners about continuity of care and prescription services.
 

Produce Prescription Program Helping to Manage Chronic Conditions

June 12, 2025 - Free Press
A new initiative connects eligible patients of the Health Brigade with free produce, bi-weekly cooking instruction, and nutrition education in partnership with Shalom Farms. The Produce Rx program includes a 12-week active phase, during which participants receive fresh produce and attend hands-on cooking classes with Jason Muckle, owner and instructor at CHEW. That is followed by a 12-week sustainability phase, which provides $30 weekly vouchers for produce at any of Shalom Farms’ 12 Mobile Market locations across the city.“This program is about bringing patients together in community and practically reaching their goals,” said My’Kal Lofton, Produce Rx manager at Shalom Farms. “It’s about recognizing what is broken about our community and celebrating what’s working.” The initiative is part of a growing national movement to treat food as medicine—particularly for those navigating conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is also designed to reduce food insecurity and support longterm wellness.
 

Battle of the Bands to Benefit Augusta Regional Dental Clinic

June 9, 2025 - Free Press
The Augusta Regional Dental Clinic will hold its annual Battle of the Bands benefit concert on June 14 at The Foundry in Waynesboro. “The benefit concert is more than a great night out. It’s a powerful way to give back. Funds raised will support patient care, oral health education and expanded services, including our school-based and mental health programs,” said Sophie Parson, ARDC executive director. “Guests can look forward to an unforgettable evening of live performances, rock’n roll, food, drinks, door prizes and a shared commitment to a great cause.” 
 

Free Clinic of Central Virginia Names New Leader

June 9, 2025 - News Advance
Welcome Dr. Derrick Brown as the new Executive Director of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia following the departure of Jen Webb. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, a deep commitment to community service, and a proven record of innovation and impact in Central Virginia. His background as an educator, nonprofit founder, and community leader aligns perfectly with the clinic’s vision for the future. Dr. Brown shares, “I am honored to join the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and look forward to working with the dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners who make this mission possible. Together, we will continue to ensure that everyone in Central Virginia has access to the healthcare they deserve.” 
 

Free Clinic of Culpeper's Food Pharmacy Planting Healthy Habits

June 5, 2025 - Star-Exponent
The Free Clinic of Culpeper's Food Pharmacy abounds with local produce from area growers and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, dispensing healthy food as medicine at no cost to its uninsured patients, many of whom are food insecure. Opening last fall, the food pharmacy provides education to help clinic patients understand how they can prevent or control chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol by making good food choices. For example, adding more fiber allows blood sugar levels to stay stable longer and can decrease cholesterol while lowering sodium intake helps decrease blood pressure. 
 

Bradley Free Clinic Slashes Counseling Waitlists with Statewide Telemental Health Program

June 5, 2025 - WSLS10
The Bradley Free Clinic has eliminated its six-month counseling waitlist due to a statewide program called the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative. A year ago, the VTMHI was launched as a free statewide virtual mental health clinic and has since more than tripled its reach. VTMHI offers free teletherapy to uninsured and underinsured patients referred to it by 30 participating free clinics.
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Wants You to Stay Hydrated this Summer

June 4, 20205 - WHSV3
As temperatures climb heading into summer, health and safety officials are warning residents to take precautions against heat exhaustion. Lynne Eggert, a nurse practitioner with the Blue Ridge Free Clinic, said the public should be especially careful as more people head outside for work, recreation and events. “This is the time of year when people are outdoors for cookouts, sports, or mowing the lawn,” Eggert said. “It’s really important to always grab a bottle of water and carry it with you, it’s easy to forget but just as easy to get dehydrated before you realize it. Anyone who has heart disease, diabetes, if they are carrying a few extra pounds, asthma, any of those conditions can make someone more prone to dehydration,” said Eggert.
 

VA Free Clinics Strategize After State, Federal Funding Cuts

June 2, 2025 - VA Mercury
Amid federal and state funding cuts, freezes and delayed payments, the outlook is grim for free clinics in Virginia that have had to trim or halt some services. Health Brigade executive director Karen Legato shared that clinic has lost $1.8 million in state and federal funding over the past year. Programs that have taken a hit include ones that offer HIV/AIDS treatment and testing for diseases like Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis, as well as a clean syringe program that also provides naloxone kits — the medication that reverses opioid overdoses. “We are witnessing the largest cut in the health care safety net that’s ever been made. Now is the time for courage, creativity and turning caring into action,” Legato said.
 

Franklin Free Clinic Joins Coalition to Combat Food & Health Care Shortages

June 2, 2025 - Mountain Eagle
Four Franklin County nonprofits have joined forces to raise awareness and address the critical shortage of food and health care services affecting the area’s underserved residents. Neighbors in Need is a new coalition founded by the executive directors of four local organizations: Ellen Holland of the Free Clinic of Franklin County (Bernard Healthcare Center), Lisa Lietz of SML Good Neighbors, Staci Talley of The Franklin County Soup Kitchen (Stepping Stone Mission), and Lucille Bowman of Transitions Basics. By uniting their efforts, Neighbors in Need aims to bring greater attention to the ongoing challenges facing Franklin County’s most vulnerable populations.
 

High Blood Pressure & What You Need to Know

May 30, 2025 - WDBJ7
May marks High Blood Pressure Education Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of managing high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Melanie Taylor, HeartCorp Member with Fralin Free Clinic and Emily Bell, Fralin Free Clinic’s RN discussed the disease and what people need to know as half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (and may not even know it!). When left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to severe complications like heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. High blood pressure is also the highest diagnosed disease in patients served at Virginia’s Free and Charitable Clinics across the state. Free and charitable clinics serve uninsured patients, many of whom are chronically ill, living with multiple co-morbidities such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and COPD and need regular access to healthcare. This month, Virginia’s free and charitable clinics are encouraging individuals to get their blood pressure checked, and start adopting heart-healthy habits.
 

Funding Cuts Tearing Holes in Region's Health Care Safety Net

May 30, 2025 - Times Dispatch
Federal and state funding cuts, freezes and delayed payments are hammering Richmond's free clinics, the region's health care safety net. Health Brigade has seen a $1.84 million cut in federal and state funding, said Karen Legato, executive director of Health Brigade, founded as the Fan Free Clinic 55 years ago. "In June of last year, we were notified that all of our HIV prevention money had been cut. We had several testing grants, those were cut," she said of some federal cuts. The grant for Health Brigade's clean syringe program, which also distributes naloxone kits, medication that reverses opioid overdoses, was also cut."It's only been a month when we had the conversation that they were cutting the entire CHARLI (the federal Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Resources and Linkages for Inmates) for the state," she said. This program connects people coming out of prison who have HIV, and with treatment, medication, housing and other supports.
 

VTMHI Expands Virginia Mental Health Services, Workforce

May 29, 2025 - WDBJ7
A year ago, the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative was launched. The free statewide virtual mental health clinic has since more than tripled its reach. “Here in Franklin County, we have Piedmont Community Services, who does a great job with counseling and substance abuse, but they are absolutely booked up. The demand just exceeds the number of people doing that kind of work,” said Bernard Healthcare Center Executive Director Ellen Holland.VTMHI offers free teletherapy to uninsured and underinsured patients referred to by 30 participating clinics. The Bernard Healthcare Center was among the first clinics to partner with VTMHI. Holland said many individuals prefer to seek counseling in private, and the telehealth option has encouraged patients to get help.

“In April we had 63 counseling visits for this small free clinic and that’s 63 more visits than we were able to offer a couple of years ago. So, this is critical for rural areas where there’s just not enough professionals to go around,” said Holland. Patients can access mental health professionals via laptops, tablets, or smartphones. For those without wi-fi, Bernard Healthcare Center provides assistance to help patients connect with providers.
 

Crossroads Medical Mission Receives $27K Donation

May 28, 2025 - WJHI11
A Tri-Cities car dealership gave $27,515 to a non-profit dedicated to providing basic medical care to underserved people. Wallace Subaru of Bristol presented Crossroads Medical Mission, a free mobile clinic, with the check on Wednesday. “This kind of money will provide labs for our patients,” Crossroads Medical Mission Executive Director Erin Faust said. “Also, incidentally, as you say, the mobile medical clinic behind us, it is actually in need of repair, and it’s going this week to finish up some repairs on that. So this is the kind of money that can really help just literally keep us rolling.”
 

Real People, Real Health Concerns Behind Medicaid

May 22, 2025 - Daily Press
As a safety net health care provider for thousands of residents of the cities of Suffolk and Franklin and neighboring counties, Western Tidewater Free Clinic regards with great alarm the proposed cuts and rule changes to Medicaid by Congress. These cuts would threaten critical access to health care for many of the nearly 2 million Virginians who receive Medicaid. Eight thousand low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients have looked to Western Tidewater Free Clinic for non-emergency health, mental health and dental care for close to two decades. Last year, just over half of our patients had Medicaid, whose reimbursements are a vital and substantial part of our overall revenue. Medicaid also gives patients options to seek care at more convenient providers, provides valuable transportation and enables them to access critical specialty care.
 

Gubernatorial Candidate Includes Free Clinics in Future Health Care Plans

May 22, 2025 - Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s “safety net” providers, like free clinics and community health centers, can also count on Spanberger’s support if she ascends to the governorship, she said. Virignia’s free clinics have for years requested more funding from the state legislature to stay afloat and serve the  most vulnerable populations, especially under- or uninsured people and rural patients who live further from hospitals. She also laid out her intention to work with Virginia’s hub of medical manufacturing companies to increase the production of generic drugs that more people would be able to afford. 
 

Fauquier Free Clinic Benefits Big From Give Local Piedmont

May 21, 2025 - Fauquier Times
Give Local Piedmont, the annual 24-hour fundraising drive facilitated by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, raised more than $1.1 million for nonprofits in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison and Rappahannock counties. Of the 214 participating organizations, the Fauquier Free Clinic benefited from the most unique donors for a second year in a row, with 210 donors giving $40,134 to the organization. The free clinic provides comprehensive health care services, including medical, women’s health, dental and mental health services for those in need in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. And like many free clinics across the country, especially those in rural areas, it has seen increased demand for services in recent years.
 

Free Dental Clinic in Wise Needs Volunteers

May 21, 2025 - Cardinal News
Every summer, a pop-up dental clinic sets up shop for two days in Wise, where residents line up to receive free cleanings, fillings and extractions. Organized by the Virginia Dental Association Foundation, the clinic depends on volunteer dentists from across the state to meet demand in Southwest Virginia, where access to dental care remains limited. Last year, more than 600 patients received treatment at the event, and even more are expected at this year’s clinic, scheduled for July 18 and 19, said Tara Quinn, executive director of the Virginia Dental Association. 
 

Health Brigade Details Patients Most at Risk after Federal Funding Cuts

May 20, 2025 - ABC8
A Richmond clinic says people living with chronic illnesses and diseases are most at risk after losing nearly $1 million in funding. The Health Brigade clinic, which is located at 1010 N. Thompson St., sent the following statement about patients who are being affected by losing more than $850,000 in federal and state-funded programs, “Health Brigade has sustained significant cuts both in direct funding from the Federal Government and in State-funded programs that get a large portion of their funds through the Feds. The most recent cuts have come from the Virginia Department of Health. These cuts impact persons living with HIV, many who are chronically ill, as well as testing and treatment for other communicable diseases such as Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis. There have been so many cuts to area organizations serving this community that we are not certain which safety net providers are still able to assist patients. Call the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology for comment as to where people living with HIV can get help.”
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Offers Prostate Cancer Screenings

May 20, 2025 - WHSV3
Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer death, but early detection can dramatically improve outcomes. For uninsured or underinsured men, Virginia’s network of free clinics may provide a critical lifeline. The Blue Ridge Free Clinic is among those offering these services to eligible patients, staffed by more than 100 volunteers and supported by community donations and hospital partnerships. “Please don’t be hesitant to come to a free clinic,” said Susan Adamson, executive director at the Blue Ridge Free Clinic. “Men especially, can be reluctant, but it’s certainly better to go and get screened to prevent a big problem if you can find a small problem and take care of it.”
 

The Health & Wellbeing of our Neighbors Depends on Medicaid

May 18, 2025 - Free Press
Every year, the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic provides approximately 5,500 patients with affordable, high-quality dental care. Eighty-two percent of our patients rely on Medicaid to access cleanings, extractions and cancer screenings at the clinic. Congress must protect Medicaid. Any cuts to the program will mean reduced reimbursements or no reimbursements at all for some services, meaning our clinic will have to lay off staff immediately while reducing our capacity to serve low-income adults and children living in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. No person should have to live in pain for lack of dental care, but that’s what cuts would mean.
 

GoochlandCares Featured on the Rural Health Voice

May 16, 2025 - VRHA
What happens when a free clinic decides to offer more than just clinical services?  Andrea Ahonen, CEO of GoochlandCares joined Beth O'Connor with the Virginia Rural Health Association's podcast to discuss how and why they handle logistics for a multitude of services.
 

Impact of U.S. House Decisions on Medicaid

May 15, 2025 - Cardinal News
At the Bradley Free Clinic, patients fill exam rooms for medical, dental and behavioral health care. For 50 years, this safety-net clinic has served some of the Roanoke region’s most acutely ill and vulnerable residents. Now, as the federal government moves forward with Medicaid cuts, clinic leaders like Janine Underwood are bracing for fallout. “We’re really struggling to figure out what sustainability looks like for not only free clinics, but safety nets throughout the community,” Underwood said. “Whether it’s Medicaid reimbursement or our uninsured population, how are we going to be able to pay for their care?” Underwood relies on government grants and community donations to cover the care provided to those without insurance. Now, she says, even that funding is in jeopardy.
 

Moss Free Clinic Patient & Caregiver Bond Over Mutual Experiences

May 11, 2025 - Freelance Star
At first glance, itmight seem Erica Hernandez-Ramirez and Vicki Walker are on different sides of healthcare -- as one gives help and the other receives it -- but the two have bonded through their mutual experiences. Vicki, a patient with the Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg shares, "They're here for me, I trust them, they give good advice. And they care, that's the biggest thing. It means the world to me." She has been with the clinic for years, which helped her survive a cancer diagnosis in 2019 which resulted in her losing her job. "I had to stop working, I lost all my benefits, I lost everything. This is the only place that would help me," she reported. And Erica, a medical assistant and referral coordinate wit the clinic, shares that "I love what I do, especially helping others in need." 
 

Friends in Need Health Center Earns Award

May 7, 2025 - TimesNews
Friends In Need Health Center, a nonprofit charitable clinic serving the greater Kingsport area and 11 counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, has been honored with a spot on the 2025 Rocky Top Business Awards list. Friends In Need's selection highlights three consecutive years of recognition of the persistent growth and expansion in providing integrated medical, dental and pharmaceutical assistance to thousands of uninsured and underinsured residents across the Appalachian Highlands. In 2025, the clinic expects to serve more than 6,100 medical and dental patients in the nonprofit charitable clinic and through telemedicine.
 

Mason & Parters Clinics Receives Award for Partnership Initiatives

May 1, 2025 - GMU.EDU
The George Mason College of Public Health’s Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics, in partnership with the Prince William County Community Services Board (CSB), have been awarded the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations in the category of Partnership Initiative. This honor is bestowed on a remarkable collaboration between a George Mason entity and an external organization, representing the interconnection of the university and its communities. “The award recognizes our joint launch of the Empowered Communities Peer Recovery Specialist Workforce Program in 2024. This innovative pipeline was created to address the behavioral health workforce shortage by training individuals with lived experience in recovery to become Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. This program stands as a model of how academic institutions and local government can co-create solutions that directly respond to community needs,” said Nancy Spencer, program manager of Empowered Communities.
 

Loudoun Free Clinic Receives Grant Award

April 29, 2025 - Times-Mirror
The Immigrant Giving Circle, founded by Nikki Daruwala and supported by the Community Foundation, awarded its first $5,000 grant to the Loudoun Free Clinic. he Loudoun Free Clinic is a nonprofit funded by grants and donations that serves more than 1,200 patients and provides free medical care to adults ages 16 to 64 who need services. “This grant reflects the values we carry, the dreams we nurture, and the communities we uplift — together,” Daruwala said. “To our very first grantee — Loudoun Free Clinic — you represent the best of what this circle stands for: resilience, vision, and community impact. We are proud to stand beside you, to support your work, and to help amplify your light."
 

Mental Health Efforts Get Boost Through Free Clinic Partnerships

April 28, 2025 - Free Press
Since is launched a year ago, the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative has tripled, growing from 10 to 30 free clinic partners across the Commonwealth including the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic, the Charlottesville Free Clinic and Blue Ridge Free Clinic. VTMHI delivers free teletherapy to uninsured and underinsured patients referred by clinics expanding access to critical mental health care statewide. Since its inception, 60 mental health providers have served more than 350 patients.
 

Twin County Community Foundation Funds Free Clinics

April 25, 2025 - Newsbreak
The Twin County Community Foundation (TCCF) is proud to celebrate 13 years of service and impact across Carroll County, Grayson County, and the City of Galax. Since its inception, TCCF has awarded more than $3.3 million in grants and scholarships, working alongside local partners like Bland Ministry Center & Dental Clinic as well as the Ohlen R. Wilson Health Center.
 

Retiree Becomes RN & Volunteers with Mother of Mercy Free Clinics

April 23, 2025 - Catholic Harold
Four years ago, at 54, Tim Anderson decided it was time to retire. A parishioner of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, he wanted to spend his days doing what he wanted to do and invest in his community. Not knowing how he would use retirement, Anderson enrolled in the nursing program at Germanna Community College in Locust Grove. Within three years he was a registered nurse. Today, he is an invaluable member of the volunteer team at Catholic Charities Mother of Mercy Free Clinics. Practicing health care by volunteering at the clinic has opened a world he hardly knew existed during his working days.
 

A Passion for Serving Others

April 22, 2025 - VCU Health
hat began as a learning opportunity has come full circle for Katie Alvis, R.D.H., B.S.D.H., a Virginia Commonwealth University dental hygiene alumna whose passion for service has led her back to GoochlandCares Free Clinic and Family Services. In 2010, Alvis provided care at the clinic through VCU School of Dentistry’s Service Learning program, where senior dental and dental hygiene students get hands-on experience in caring for communities across Virginia, often in safety-net clinics serving areas of significant need. “The service learning aspect of my education was crucial,” Alvis said. “My external rotations instilled vital lessons in compassion and empathy. They also inspired and solidified my passion for serving underserved communities.” 
 

UVA Health Donates to Virginia Free Clinics

April 17, 2025 - UVA Health
To honor its physicians for National Doctors’ Day, UVA Health is donating $10,000 each to Virginia free clinics in Charlottesville, Culpeper and Northern Virginia including Fauquier Free Clinic (the clinic ensures residents of Fauquier and Rappahannock counties have access to comprehensive medical, dental and mental health care, regardless of income), Catholic Charities Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinics (located in Manassas and Woodbridge, the clinics provide free medical care to uninsured or underinsured low-income patients in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park), and Free Clinic of Culpeper (part of the nonprofit Culpeper Wellness Foundation, the clinic provides essential healthcare to uninsured people and those unable to afford care).  
 

Healing Hands Health's New Integrated Medical & Behavioral Health Center

April 16, 2025 - WCYB5
Healing Hands Health is currently working on expanding their services with a new medical and behavioral health center. The center will be located right next to its dental clinic with the goal of having a seamless integration with the other clinics and services they provide. The facility will include comprehensive care so patients have access to physical, mental, and social care all in one place they're calling the "Heartbeat" of the center. Hoping to open the center in 2026, their goal is to increase capacity by 60% and become a safe place where patients feel supported during difficult times.
 

Building Capacity & Community Through Sharing NoVA

April 14, 2025 - GWCF
For Lynette Sappe-Watkins, Executive Director of the Culmore Clinic – a Sharing NoVA nonprofit clinic providing healthcare services to uninsured adults in the Bailey’s Crossroads area of Fairfax County-- 2024 has been a very busy year. “When we joined Sharing NoVA at the beginning of 2024, we were serving about 400 patients,” Sappe-Watkins recalled. “We ended the year with 888 patients.” An increase of more than 114%. The clinic, which partners with local healthcare providers to provide medical services, diagnostic testing, health counseling and mental health services to low-income individuals and families received more than 7,000 visits. When asked why she thought the numbers had increased so dramatically, Sappe-Watkins highlighted three words. “Trust. Access. Acceptance.”
 

Friends in Need Health Center Names New Executive Director

April 13, 2025 - Times News
After years of dedicated public service and a stent in leadership at Friends In Need Health Center, Betsy Cooper officially announced her retirement as executive director. Cooper’s tenure at the clinic was marked by tremendous growth, innovation and heartfelt care—cementing her legacy as a transformative leader in regional healthcare. As Friends In Need enters this new chapter, the Board of Directors has named Trey Darnell the next executive director. Known for his deep commitment to community service and expanding access to care, Darnell brings nonprofit experience and a strong presence in the Kingsport area. 
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic to Add Dental Services

April 10, 2025 - WMRA
The Blue Ridge Free Clinic celebrated their fourth anniversary this week with the news that they'll start offering dental services on site in the next 90 days. Susan Adamson, a family nurse practitioner, is the volunteer director at the practice, she shares that dental "is one of the worst pains people can have. It's a throbbing nerve pain, and it can also be dangerous, especially in patients with diabetes and hypertension…and it can result in infections that extend even into the brain or the face, so dental infections are very serious infections in addition to being exquisitely painful and disabling." Healthcare providers donate their time to care for patients, free of charge at this clinic. Adamson said they've treated more than 2,000 patients thus far, many of whom have urgent dental needs in addition to other health problems. 
 

Friends in Need Health Center Installs Point of Care Lab

April 1, 2025 - Times News
Friends in Need Health Center, a nonprofit medical and dental clinic that provides services for both the uninsured and underinsured, is receiving a Point of Care lab from Heart to Heart International (HHI) featuring modern lab equipment, staff training, mentoring, technical support and supplies and reagents for the first 12 months. “This partnership embodies our commitment to the goals of our laboratory program and supports our mission of improving access to equitable healthcare in medically under-resourced communities and in disaster situations,” stated HHI Senior Vice President of Programs Tenagashaw (Tena) Tiruneh.
 

Virginia's Free Health Clinics Overwhelmed with Patients

March 31, 2025 - WHSV3
Free healthcare clinics throughout Virginia have seen an influx of patients over the past few years, and according to the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, patient demand continues to rise. As the cost of living rises, so does the demand for Virginia’s free clinics. The VAFCC said patients served at free clinics jumped by 19% in 2022, and rose by another 32% in 2023. Based in Harrisonburg, the Blue Ridge Free Clinic offers free services for physical, mental and dental health to those who need them. Susan Adamson, a family nurse practitioner and the executive director for the BRFC, said clinics around the commonwealth have been at or above compacity for the past six to eight months.
 

GoochlandCares Offering Solution to Food Insecurity

March 31, 2025 - CBS6
A new poll revealed that 78 percent of Virginians surveyed said groceries have become harder to afford in the last year. One answer to that problem is Virginia’s free and charitable clinic network. GoochlandCares offers a food pantry, which is just one of 12 different programs it offers including a clothes closet, medical clinic, and emergency housing. Staff and volunteers have seen the need growing in the rural county firsthand. The pantry fed 200 families a week during the start of the pandemic. Now, it serves 350 to 375 families weekly while providing clients with three days' worth of food. Each customer can return to the pantry each week.
 

Free Clinic of Powhatan Highlighting Healthy Habits Year Round

March 28, 2025 - WRIC8
The Free Clinic of Powhatan is promoting whole-body health and healthy habits all year-round with its “Eat Well, Be Well” program, providing nutritional education and wellness coaching to address both immediate healthcare needs and long-term wellness. “When a tooth is extracted, particularly if there’s several extracted at a time, it takes 6-8 weeks for that bone to heal well before they can even start the process for dentures,” said dental case manager and nutrition advocate Theresa Quinn. “So, people aren’t eating well during that period. I try to make sure that they have more nutrient-dense foods from our food pantry that they can eat that are soft.” The clinic’s registered dietitian nutritionist Pam Campbell also brings food labels with her to show patients the differences in foods and give them tips on how to effectively grocery shop.
 

Western Tidewater Free Clinic's Dentist Named 2025 Health Care Hero

March 24, 2025 - Virginian-Pilot
Dr. Fallon Berger has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication since joining Western Tidewater Free Clinic in October 2022. She guided her team through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of the clinic from two chairs to four, significantly increasing its capacity to serve the community.
Despite the constraints of working out of a mobile dental clinic during the expansion, she and her team delivered outstanding care and support to patients. Fallon’s unwavering dedication, innovative approach and compassionate care make her a true Health Care Hero.
 

ODU Community Care Clinic Named 2025 Health Care Hero

March 24, 2025 - Virginian-Pilot
Congratulations to Old Dominion University Ellmer School of Nursing's Community Care Clinic, named a 2025 Health Care Hero for providing free care to the most vulnerable within their community via an integrated care model that includes holistic care to address both the medical and social needs of patients. "We see patients who would have not received care outside of an emergency department come to us for chronic or emergent care. Several of our programs have included the implementation of a Hepatitis C program, a smoking cessation program, sexually transmitted infection screening and management, naloxone distribution and the distribution of wound care kits. Patients who would not be afforded health care screenings such as mammograms, pelvic exams and prostate exams are able to receive this important screening at yearly pop-up health fairs," shares Carolyn Rutledge.
 

Sinclair Health Clinic Honors Volunteers & Partners

March 21, 2025 - Winchester Star
Sinclair Health Clinic hosted its second Terry Awards on March 20 at Winchester Brew Works. Named in honor of the clinic’s co-founder, Dr. Terry Sinclair, the event recognizes individuals and organizations who embody his enduring legacy of compassion, service, and community impact. Steve Zuckerman, Sinclair Health Clinic’s longest-serving volunteer, was honored as Volunteer of the Year. He joined the Board of Directors in 1992, serving for eight years. He then obtained his pharmacy technician license and has been faithfully filling prescriptions at the clinic every week for over three decades. The Legacy Award was presented to Diane Sinclair, wife of the late Terry Sinclair, and a steadfast champion of the clinic since its inception. The Community Partner Award was presented to Shenandoah University’s School of Health Professions in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the clinic’s mission.
 

Fauquier Free Clinic Partners with Laurel Ridge on Dental Assisting Program

March 18, 2025 - Royal Examiner
Laurel Ridge Community College has something to smile about—its fast-track Dental Assisting program is now being offered at the Fauquier Campus. The new program, which started its first group of students in February, is designed to help students train quickly for jobs in the dental field. Dental assistants play a key role in helping dentists care for patients. Students learn to take X-rays, prepare exam rooms, clean tools, and even help with front desk tasks like scheduling and billing. As part of their training, students are gaining real-world experience at the Fauquier Free Clinic in Warrenton. The clinic has partnered with the college to offer students a space to practice their skills in a real dental setting. Clinic Director Rob Marino said the clinic is glad to help. “The students have been great to work with,” he said. “It’s a great clinical job and a great way for someone to get into healthcare.”
 

Andrea Ahonen Takes Helm of GoochlandCares

March 17, 2025 - VPM
GoochlandCares is a nonprofit organization that provides more than a dozen social services for residents, including medical care, transportation and emergency housing. In late 2024, its longtime executive director Sally Graham retired after more than 25 years. Andrea Ahonen, Graham’s successor, is stepping up to continue both her and the GoochlandCares legacy. "I had heard about the organization almost a decade ago, from a volunteer from a previous organization who lives in Goochland. Who knew that eight or nine years later, as the organization was undergoing a search for their next leader with Sally's impending retirement, a mutual friend reached out and asked if I'd be interested?" she shares. Learn more Andrea and the future of GoochlandCares.
 

Rappahannock Area Rural Health Care in Jeopardy

March 16, 2025 - Rappahannock News
The prospect of cutbacks in federal government funding — whether for huge health insurance programs such as Medicaid or simply hoped-for grants — has regional healthcare nonprofits searching to find other non-governmental support, and holding planning sessions to see what services they still could provide with considerably less money.  “I don’t think most people understand how pervasive federal funding is in the sense of going to nonprofits, going to localities, going to states,” said Rufus Phillips, CEO of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. “Even if federal funding was only 10% of what a nonprofit takes in, every dollar matters in a nonprofit,” he added. “Take that away and you’ve created a crisis.”

“If suddenly Medicaid is taken away from someone we’re seeing, we will continue to see them,” said Rob Marino, executive director of the Fauquier Free Clinic, one of the relative handful of free medical clinics in the state that accepts Medicaid patients. “But in addition to the fact that we’re no longer going to get paid for seeing that patient, when we send them out to get their Prozac or their diabetes medicine, we’re going to get the bill for that. It would get us on both sides.”
 

Chesapeake Care Clinic Combats Food Insecurity

March 14, 2025 - 13NewsNow
March is National Nutrition Month, a time to highlight the importance of healthy eating. But for many families in Hampton Roads, access to nutritious and affordable food is a daily struggle. Chesapeake Care, Inc. is working to bridge the gap, helping low-income families fight food insecurity and make healthier choices through its food pantry and in-house support services including diabetes education programs, case management, and community education and outreach. "Most of our patients are either under-insured or low income," Domenick Fini, Communications and Development Director said. "So, to have a community resource like Chesapeake Care Clinic means a lot to them."
 

Sinclair Health Clinic Award Winner

March 14, 2025 - Winchester Star
More than 300 people attended the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber’s Greater Good Awards at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Warren County. The event celebrates "outstanding individuals and businesses for the contributions they make to the quality of life and economic stability of our region through genuine community commitment, dedication to excellence, and ethical and creative business practices." Of this year's winners, the Sinclair Health Clinic was honored as Nonprofit of the Year. 
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic Food Pharmacy Sees Increase Demand

March 13, 2025 - WHSV3
March is National Nutrition Month, and the Blue Ridge Free Clinic in Harrisonburg is seeing an increased demand at its ‘Food is Medicine’ food pantry. The clinic has been running the low-barrier food pantry for about two years, but the clinic’s Executive Director, Susan Adamson, who also works as a family nurse practitioner, said more people are seeking food. “We have people waiting at our doors, not because they have an appointment with us, but because they need groceries for their family for the week,” Adamson said. “We call it our ‘Food is Pharmacy,’ because we think food is just as important as medicine for people to be healthy. This particular month is one where we want to make sure patients know that we’re here with food available and our food pantry is open to anybody,” Adamson said. “Whenever our doors are unlocked, anybody in the community is welcome to come in and fill a bag of groceries.” The clinic offers foods for a variety of dietary restrictions, whether cultural, religious or health-related. “So many of our patients have illnesses like diabetes or hypertension, and what they eat really makes a difference. As we know, food is incredibly expensive and getting more so,” Adamson said. “We found out that some people were deciding between buying medicine and buying groceries.”
 

New Program at Crossroads Medical Mission Supports Adults Struggling with Addiction

March 12, 2025 - WCYB5
A new initiative at the Crossroads Medical Mission free clinic in Bristol is working to connect adults struggling with addiction to recovery programs by leveraging the experiences of trained specialists who navigated substance use disorders previously themselves. The HOPE Initiative – modeled after a similar program that launched in Roanoke at the Bradley Free Clinic in 2018 – connects patients with peer recovery specialists who are health professionals focused on helping people navigate the complexities and difficulties of treatment and recovery. The specialists work collaboratively with the Crossroads Medical Mission team to provide integrative care to patients. Access to HOPE Initiative services is free for patients and open to any over the age of 18.
 

Delta Dental Funds Free Clinics

March 5, 2025 - Cardinal News
The Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation announced its largest-ever total grant awards on Tuesday. The foundation distributed $950,000 to 14 organizations across the state focused on improving oral health. These grants support safety-net organizations that serve residents who are uninsured or receive Medicaid and other educational initiatives that work to expand access to dental care and address workforce shortages. Clinic grant recipients included Arlington Free Clinic, Bland Ministry Center, Bradley Free Clinic, Charlottesville Free Clinic, CrossOver Healthcare Ministries, Fauquier Free Clinic, Free Clinic of Powhatan, HELP Clinic, and Northern Neck Middlesex Free Health Clinic.
 

Blue Ridge Free Clinic is Expanding

March 4, 2025 - WSVA News
Susan Adamson-longtime Executive Director of the Free Clinic has watched the health needs of the community rise and they need even more help from you now! On the Mike Schikman show she describes what is going on!
 

Health Wagon Expands Telehealth Access

February 28, 2025 - Virginia Mercury
The Health Wagon is teaming up with UVA Health to bolster rural healthcare to uninsured families via telehealth. “This program is groundbreaking for families in our region,” said Teresa Tyson, CEO, shared. “It ensures that patients receive timely care without the need to travel long distances, which is often a challenge in rural communities.” The Health Wagon provide free medical, dental, pharmacy and vision to underserved communities in several Southwest Virginia localities. Clinics around the state have been critical in providing care to under or uninsured Virginians.
 

From the Heart Nonprofit Supports Free Clinics

February 27, 2025 - WRIC
Local organization From the Heart recently achieved a major milestone. Volunteers have officially donated 600,000 handmade items to Central Virginians in need. Colin King and Dziko Singleton from the Health Brigade’s Harm Reduction Program. They’ve partnered with From the Heart for years and said they have seen firsthand how powerful their work is to local, vulnerable populations. “These are people that are, from day to day, ignored,” King explained. “So receiving an item that is homemade could be a really big bright spot [for] somebody.” Julie Bilodeau is the CEO of Crossover Healthcare Ministry. She picked up a bag on Thursday and shared how there’s nothing sweeter than helping groups of kids pick out their first personal item. “A lot of the children we work with are refugee children,” Bilodeau said. “The fact that they have their own hat or their own scarf, it’s really important to them.”
 

Augusta Regional Dental Clinic to Host Dentalplooza

February 26, 2025 - Augusta Free Press
The Dentalplooza clinic days will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offer consultations, cleaning, fillings and surgical extractions at no charge. “At the ARDC, we are committed to breaking down barriers to dental care,” said Sophie Parson, executive director. “Oral health is essential to overall well-being, and through this event, we aim to provide relief and support to those who may not otherwise have access to treatment.” Parson believes this year’s event will be the biggest to date thanks to a large response from local dentists and hygienists. She expects the clinic to see up to 120 patients. The ARDC welcomed 85 patients during Dentalplaooza last year and provided nearly $20,000 worth of dental services free of charge. “Unfortunately with affordable dental care options being limited in our community, our patients eagerly wait for Dentalpalooza every year,” she said. “We are grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who increase our treatment capacity and allow us to offer additional services like oral surgery.”
 

Medical Refrigerators Bolster Healthcare for Uninsured Patients at CrossOver Healthcare Ministries

February 18, 2025 - Direct Relief
CrossOver, a charitable clinic and pharmacy in Richmond provides many services — medical and dental visits, labs, social work, and Medicaid enrollment assistance, along with prescription medications — through volunteer time and donations. Previously, their pharmacy facilities were too small for to house all the medications patient needed, however a move into a larger facility improved the situation. However, medical refrigeration was an ongoing challenge for cold-chain medicines like insulin. Getting enough insulin for patients was, as CrossOver CEO Julie Bilodeau termed it, “chaos.” Insulin supplies were unpredictable and took up to 12 weeks to come in. “We were finding we had to switch people from one insulin to the other,” she explained.

To alleviate this issue, Direct Relief donated two pharmaceutical-grade refrigerators from healthcare company Sanofi, which maintain and monitor highly consistent temperatures to safeguard cold-chain medications and vaccines. Amiyah Newsome, medications program manager at CrossOver, said the refrigerators have made it possible to offer patients who need insulin 90-day prescriptions rather than only being able to provide 30 days at a time — making it more likely patients will have access to and reliably take their medication. They’ve also made it possible for CrossOver to add about 25 new medications to its formulary — the list of prescription medicines available to patients.
 

Free Clinic of Central Virginia Reopens Dental Services After Fire

February 17 - ABC13 News
The Free Clinic of Central Virginia has reopened its dental services in a temporary location after a fire destroyed its downtown building in December. Fire officials said the blaze was caused by a homeless person seeking shelter. Jen Webb, CEO, expressed relief at having a temporary space for dental patients while the clinic assesses over $2 million in damages. The clinic, which provides care for those unable to afford health care and insurance, is temporarily operating out of the former Community Access Network building at 3718 Old Forest Road. They are not accepting walk-ins right now; they are just appointments only. "Everybody is just so happy, the phone has been ringing off the hook," said Aliyah Horsley, a dental assistant at the clinic. "Everybody stuck together. We did everything that we could to make sure that we made this a very smooth transition and very fast, for not only our patients but for us."
 

ODU Community Care Clinic Hosts Women's Day

February 15, 2025 - Wavy
Some women experiencing homelessness face significant challenges in accessing healthcare. Tammy Speerhas, a nurse practitioner and director of ODU Community Care, is among those working to bridge this gap. “We’re doing our first annual Women’s Day; it’s a pop-up event,” she explained. “We are providing free health care services, including cervical cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection screenings and colorectal screenings. Our Sentara partner is here as well with their mobile mammogram van, so we’re doing breast cancer screenings and mobile mammograms as well.” Speerhas noted that events like these help bridge the gap and enable individuals to return to familiar faces, providing an opportunity for comfort.
 

Insights from Virginia's Free & Charitable Clinics

February 14, 2025 - MCJ Consulting
Free and Charitable Clinics and Pharmacies (FCCPs) play a vital role in delivering healthcare to underserved communities. However, they are facing mounting challenges, including Medicaid unwinding, financial uncertainty, and workforce constraints. As demand rises, clinics are exploring ways to adapt quickly while grappling with limited resources. In a recent conversation with Rufus Phillips, Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC), we delved into the pressing issues influencing FCCPs and the strategies the Association is using to support its members.
 

Spike in Demand for Free Clinics Means Longer Waitlists, Cutbacks

February 14, 2025 - VPM
Sharon Brown has been serving breakfast and lunch at Powhatan High School for more than 20 years. During that time, she lost health insurance because she wasn’t working enough hours to qualify. For the past four years, Brown has relied on support from the Free Clinic of Powhatan. The free clinic also treats Brown for myriad health issues. She was born with a heart defect and has a mechanical mitral valve that ensures the vital muscle functions properly. Brown’s also been diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, which the clinic monitors at her regular visits.

Elizabeth Ream, the clinic’s executive director, said many of her patients fit that description. “A lot of people have health coverage they can’t even afford to use because of high deductibles and how much it would impact their very thin budget.” she said. Medical centers like the Free Clinic of Powhatan provide health care for the uninsured and underinsured. They operate with only a few paid staff members and rely primarily on medical professionals who volunteer their time and expertise. The majority of their funding comes from charitable donations, grants and state funding.
 

Healing Hands Hosts 15th 'Sweet for the Sweet' Campaign

February 14, 2025 - WCYB5
Healing Hands Health Center's Sweets for the Sweet campaign is one of the biggest fundraisers for the low-cost medical and dental clinic. Healing Hands volunteers delivered 900 cupcakes over the last two days.This year's campaign raised nearly $36,000 and you can still donate if you'd like to help the organization reach its $40,000 goal.
 

Budget Proposal Calls for Funding Free Clinics

February 10, 2025 - Daily Press
Across the commonwealth, free and charitable clinics are increasingly part of the fabric of public health. Demand for their services is expected to rise, but local clinics worry about the potential impact of Medicaid cuts at the federal level that could cause people to lose access to health care. “We are kind of at capacity,” Petersen said. “Without hiring additional staff, we don’t really have the availability to enroll but so many more patients.” Clinics such as Chesapeake Care serve as the “front door” into the medical system for people who otherwise couldn’t afford health care. The aim is to keep people out of emergency rooms and, for the majority of patients, to manage long-term health issues.
 

Sen. Kaine Meets with Local Leaders at Free Clinic

February 6, 2025 - Free Press
Sen. Tim Kaine, met with community leaders at Health Brigade in Richmond for a roundtable discussion on their concerns about President Donald Trump’s controversial executive orders. Leaders, including Mayor Danny Avula, Health Brigade Executive Director Karen Legato and nonprofit organization executives supporting underserved communities, shared their concerns. They discussed the potential closure of the Medicaid portal, the negative impact on homeless services and the uncertainty facing immigrant communities under the threat of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 
 

Strained Safety Net: Free Clinics Face Funding Uncertainty Amid Growing Need

February 6, 2025 - Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s network of free and charitable clinics is seeing a surge in demand. In 2023, VAFCC reported serving 108,270 patients — a 32% jump from the nearly 82,000 patients seen in the previous year. While full data for 2024 isn’t in yet, some clinics are already reporting waitlists for care, alongside growing concerns about potential federal Medicaid funding cuts that could drive even more patients through their doors. Lawmakers are pushing for more funding for the state’s free clinics. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, and Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, aimed to secure $4 million through a recent budget amendment, but Willett said that a more modest $500,000 is the likely outcome. “We have $500,000 on the table based on what funding is available and will take that for now,” he said. “It’s better than nothing, but we’ll need to go right back to the budget process next year to try to get more.”
 

Crossroads Medical Mission Leader is Retiring

February 6, 2025 - Herald Courier
Cindy Rockett is planning to step down, effective March 1, from serving as the Executive Director of the Crossroads Medical Mission in Bristol, VA. She has served as the free clinic's first and only leader since its founding in 2001. Known for her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, Rockett has played an instrumental role in advancing the mission’s efforts to provide compassionate, comprehensive medical care to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Bristol and neighboring communities.
 

Shenandoah Community Health Clinic Braces as Demand Surges

February 2, 2025 - NV Daily
Shenandoah Community Health Clinic has long served as a critical safety net for residents who cannot afford health care elsewhere. The clinic primarily serves patients in Shenandoah County but also treats those from Page, Rockingham and Frederick counties, as well as parts of West Virginia. It provides medical, dental and behavioral health services — care that would otherwise be inaccessible for many residents in the region. “We have seen overall an increase in all aspects of our business by about 20% from 2023 to 2024,” Leigh Sicina, Executive Director said. “I mean, just in our medication assistance alone, we’ve seen an 11% increase. There’s a lot of people in the community that don’t have insurance and they still need health care and the mission is to bridge gaps in health care for our community.”
 

VA Clinics Facing Demand, Seeking Additional Funding

January 31, 2025 - WHSV3
“If we reduce offering or if we close, God forbid, there will be no affordable dental resources for Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro. That state funding we receive is huge, having a bump is just critical at this point,” shares Sophie Parson, executive director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic, Inc. Located in Fishersville, the clinic served 5,008 patients last year, and the need is only growing.
 

Clinics Facing Unprecedented Growth in Patient Demand

January 29, 2025 - FXBG Advance
The Lloyd Moss Free Clinic is not closed and does not intend to close, said Thomas Brashears, the clinic’s new executive director.SubscribeThat’s a good thing, because free clinics around the state are experiencing “unprecedented” growth in patient demand, according to a recent analysis of member data by the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC). Fredericksburg’s Moss Clinic is one of 71 member clinics in the association. Brashears said the demand for appointments combined with a limited staff has created a wait list that is three months long.
 

Clinics Hope Legislature Will Make Up for Growing Deficit

January 28, 2025 - WVTF
Virginia’s free clinics have long served some of the Commonwealth’s most needy, and the number of patients hasn’t decreased. After getting some additional funds from the state legislature last year, they’re back in the hopes of making up millions they say they need to stay afloat. “The volume went up and the funding did not,” said Karen Legato with Health Brigade, a free clinic located in downtown Richmond. She was highlighting the demand for services her clinic provides as the Virginia legislature mulls additional funding.
 

Clinics Ask for Funding Amid Spike in Patients

January 24, 2025 - Channel 12
Whenever there is a healthcare crisis, the Health Brigade, a free healthcare clinic in Richmond, opens its doors to the most vulnerable. They’re just one of many free healthcare clinics across the Commonwealth trying to meet the demand. They see 60 to 70 patients daily. While their appointments are stacking up, so are their staffing and operational costs. “We’ve been running on a deficit for the past two years. And we’re actually at a critical point where I’m actually not sure how much longer we’re going to be to sustain,” Karen Legato, executive director said. Clinics went from seeing 75,000 patients to over 108,000 between 2022 and 2023. The cost to care for each uninsured patient jumped from $900 to just over $1,000. The VAFCC has presented a budget amendment to the general assembly asking for an extra $4 million, increasing its fund from $6.8 million to $10.8 million a year. “The $4 million would represent care for 4,000 patients. A very modest ask when you think that the clinics are serving 108,000 Virginians right now,” said Rufus Phillips, CEO of VAFCC.
 

Virginia Free Clinics Seek State Help for Their Safety Net Care

January 24, 2025 - Times-Dispatch
Free clinics need help, says Rufus Phillips, chief executive officer of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, and state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, agree. They’ve put in budget amendments to boost state support for free clinics by $4 million a year. The clinics got a $3.1 million statewide increase in 2016, shortly before the hepatitis epidemic hit Roanoke. The idea was that the state would support about 30% of their expenses. They hadn’t had anything else until last year, when the General Assembly approved an increase of $1.5 million in response to their request for $5 million. That brings their total support up to $8.3 million a year. It accounts for an average of about 17% of their expenses. The rest comes from grants and donors – while much of the more than $179 million worth of care provided to their 108,270 patients comes from the free services of their hundreds of volunteers.
 

Charlottesville Free Clinic Mourning Sudden Loss of CEO

January 20, 2025 - CBS19
The Charlottesville Free Clinic reports its CEO, Meghan Hinger, died unexpectedly on Jan. 15. She was 39. Hinger had come to the clinic in 2016 and had played a major role in creating the more equitable health care landscape that now exists. During her time with the clinic, the patient base grew, providing more than 7,500 patient visits in 2024 alone. “Meghan was the heart of the free clinic and devoted her life to serving the underserved in our community,” said Dr. Will Knight, Chairman of the Charlottesville Free Clinic. “Her contributions to our community will reverberate forever- the love and care our patients felt from the clinic has changed their lives for the better, as well as those around them. She molded us into probably the best medical clinic in town.”
 

Flooding Damages St. Luke Community Clinic

January 14, 2025 - Royal Examiner
On January 10, St. Luke Community Clinic, a vital nonprofit healthcare provider in Front Royal, VA, faced an unexpected crisis when a sprinkler system pipe burst in the attic. The incident caused extensive flooding throughout the building, forcing the clinic to temporarily shut its doors. “It was heartbreaking to see the extent of the damage,” said Vicki Davies, Executive Director of St. Luke Community Clinic. “Our clinic is a lifeline for so many in this community, and having to close, even temporarily, has been incredibly difficult for everyone.”
 

Rebuilding Hope: Support the Free Clinic of Central Virginia After Devasting Fire

January 13, 2025 - ABC13
The Free Clinic of Central Virginia has been helping the uninsured and underinsured in our community since 1987. However, a nearby fire caused significant damage to its building and they are looking to the community to help. Emily gets the latest on the story and how you can help.
 

Richmond-area Free Clinics Grapple with Effects of Winter Storm, Water Outages

January 10, 2025 - VPM
Hundreds of under- and uninsured people in the Richmond region weren’t able to access health care for parts of the week as many of the city’s free health clinics were forced to close their doors because of a lack of potable water. Health Brigade has been closed since Winter Storm Blair damaged city infrastructure leading to a city-wide water shortage. Water began flowing at the site again on Thursday and the clinic is hopeful it will be operational by Saturday. Rufus Phillips, CEO of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, said CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Richmond’s other stand-alone free clinic, was also forced to cancel some appointments this week due to the city’s ongoing water shortages. The clinic reopened, but is taking extra precautions to ensure safe conditions for its patients while the city works to restore its clean water