Press & Media

The Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) is happy to work with the news media and other digital partners to raise awareness of the critical role free and charitable clinics play in providing care to the Commonwealth’s underserved and to engage the public in a discussions on the need for accessible quality healthcare for all.

If you are a member of a news or media organization and need assistance, please contact Rebecca Butler at rbutler@vafreeclinics.org or 804.340.3434.
 

Company Background

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Richmond, the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) is an effective advocate for the issues and concerns of free and charitable clinics, their volunteer workforce of doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, technicians, and other health care professionals, and the patients served by free and charitable clinics in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
 

Quick Facts:

• Accessible quality healthcare is not only a basic human right, but also fundamental to good health -- leading to stronger communities and a thriving state of Virginia.
• VAFCC is the nation's oldest free and charitable clinic association.
• In the past year, Virginia's 60+ network of free and charitable clinics provided greater than $121 million in care to more than 79,000 vulnerable patients. 

 

Digital Files:

• High Resolution VAFCC Logo
• Images of Clinics - image one, image two, image three

 

Press Releases:                                         

• Free Clinics Offer No Cost and Affordable Diabetes Prevention and Care, November 2024
• VAFCC Welcomes Piedmont Regional Dental Clinic as Full Member Clinic, October 2024
• Expanding Substance Use Peer Recovery Programs in Free Clinics Across Virginia, September 2024
• VAFCC Welcomes Lucy Corr Foundation Dental Clinic as Full Member Clinic, August 2024
• Clinic Lauches Service for Community Members with Addiction, June 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics See Continued Demand in Latest Quarter, April 2024
• Volunteers Down by Half at Free Clinics, April 2024
• Patient Demand Up at Virginias Free & Charitable Clinics, January 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics Recognize Champions of Health Care, October 2023
• Anthem Grants Funds to Expand Substance Use Peer Recovery Program to Free Clinics Across Virginia, August 2023
• VAFCC Member Clinics See 19% Increase in Patients, July 2023
• Volunteers A Critical Component for Virginia’s Free & Charitable Clinics, April 2023
• Free and Low-Cost Prescriptions Available Through Free Clinic Network, March 2023
• Medicaid Changes in Virginia: Free Clinics Urge People to Update Contact Information, March 2023
• Living Water Community Clinic Welcomed as VAFCC Full Member Clinic, February 2023
• WGU and VAFCC Announce New Partnership and Scholarship to Support Clinic Workforce, February 2023
• Virginia Telemental Health Initiative Launches at Fauquier Free Clinic, December 2022
• VAFCC Welcomes Guadalupe Free Clinic of Colonial Beach as Full Clinic Member, August 2022
• Virginia Clinics Provide Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Services, May 2022
• Increase in 'Excess Deaths' in Virginia Points to Importance of Preventative Care Access, February 2022
• Virginia's Free Clinics Report Increase in Patient Demand Cite Decrease in Staffing Capacities, December 2021
• #FreeClinicsCare Public Awareness Campaign Receives National Attention, June 2021
• Supporting Volunteerism During the Pandemic in Virginia’s Free Clinics, April 2021      
• Virginia's Free Clinics Launch Statewide Public Awareness Campaign in Response to Growning Need Due to (Health & Economic) Pandemic, November, 2020
• Delta Dental of Virginia Contributes $500K in Response to COVID-19, April 2020
• Surgery Center of Lynchburg Contributes $1 Millon to Southwest Free Clinics, February 2020
• VA. Association of Free and Charitable Clinics Selects Rufus Phillips as new CEO, May 2019
• Sentara Healthcare and Optima Health Donate $1.5 Million to Virginia's Free Clinics, March 2019
• Virginia's Network of Free & Charitable Clinics Provided $191 Million in Care, January 2019
• VAFCC Welcomes Free Clinic of the Twin Counties as Full Clinic Member, January 2019
• Honoring Those That Have Made A Difference, September 2018

 

VAFCC In the News:

• The Value of Giving Back: On Oral Surgeon's Perspective on Volunteerig in Virginia's Free Clinics, October 2024
• Nearly 500,000 Virginians in Medicaid have been Disenrolled, August 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics Hope for Funding Boost From the State, July 2024
• Volunteering in Virginia's Free & Charitable Clinics, July 2024
• Community Health Workers Help Vulnerable Populations Access Needed Resources, July 2024
• Rural Areas Face Need for Free Clinics, July 2024
• Virginia Pilot Becomes First Statewide Virtual Free Clinic for Mental Health Care, May 2024
• Demand on Virginia's Free Clinics Continues to Rise as Funding Cuts Loom, May 2024
• Free Clinics See Increased Demand Following Medicaid Unwinding, May 2024
• VA Free Clinics See Sharp Increase in Patient Visits, May 2024
• Volunteers Sought for Health Clinics Statewide in Virginia, April 2024
• Post-Pandemic, Many Free Medical Clinics Face Financial Pressures, April 2024 
• ​Free Health Clinics Expect to Receive First Funding Increase Since 2016, March 2024
• ​Virginia Free Clinics Fear Impending Legislative Budget Cuts, March 2024
• Rising Costs & Patient Demand Threaten a Critical Safety Net - Free Clinics, March 2024
• Financial Changes Threaten Future of Moss Free Clinic, February 2024
• More State Funding for Clinics is Critical to Maintaining a Healthy Virginia, February 2024
• A Health Care Lifesaver: Virginia's Financially Squeezed Free Clinics Offer a Vital Helping Hand, February 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics See Dramatic Spike in Patients Needing Help, February 2024
• Patient Demand Increasing at Virginia's Free Clinics, February 2024
• Proposed Budget Amendment Would Add $5M in Funding for Virginia Free Clinics, February 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics Seeing Rise in Patient Demand, Operating Costs, January 2024
• Free Clinics Experiencing an Overwhelming Influx of Patients, January 2024
• Virginia Free Clinics Seeing Rise in Patient Demand, Operating Costs, January 2024
• Confidential Resource to Address Burnout, Career Fatigue, Mental Health in Medical Profession Expands, December 2023
• For Many Struggling With Addiction, Free Clinics Are a Lifeline, October 2023
• $500K Grant to Expand Substance Use Peer Recovery Program Across Virginia, September 2023
• Funding allows Health Wagon to Offer Substance Abuse Program, September 2023
• Roanoke Program Leading the Way for Substance Abuse Support in Virginia, August 2023
• The Hope Initiative Model Will Expand to Other Clinics With a Major Grant, August 2023
• Accessia Health's Unique Approach to Patient Assistance Programs Amid Shifting Dynamics and Policies, August 2023
• Report: More people are skipping out on medical treatment to save money, July 2023
• Free And Low-Cost Prescriptions Available Through Free Clinic Network, April 2023
• Virginia Telehealth Network Aims to Increase Access to Behavioral and Mental Health Services, February 2023
• Free Clinics Are Filling the Mental Health Gap, January 2023
• Free virtual mental health services will be available in Roanoke starting Jan. 2023, December 2022
• Diabetes Awareness: Virginia Free Clinics to Offer No Cost, Affordable Prevention Care, November 2022
• Free Mental Health Clinic Closes Due to Staff Shortages, November 2022
• Colonial Beach clinic Joins Statewide Network, Just as Patient County Grows, August 2022
• Free Virtual Urgent Care Visits in Virginia Expand Statewide, July 2022
• We should be investing in the health of Virginians, July 2022
• Virginians could lose access to Medicaid as eligibility gets reexamined. But how many is ‘a very big unknown.’, May 2022
• VAFCC Advocates for Equitable Health Care Access, May 2022
• Remembering the Women behind Virginia's Free & Charitable Clinics, April 2022
• Support Building for Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery Act, April 2022
• Getting to Know: Rufus Phillips, VAFCC, April 2022
• Virginia Doctors Tell Patients to Seek Care After Spike in Deaths from Chronic Conditions, March 2022
• The Herd: Mew Hires, Promotions, & Departures, January 2022
• Free Clinic of Culpeper Crew Smaller, Seeing More Patients, January 2022
• Making a Difference: Virginia's Free Clinics Resilient Despite Pandemic Challenges, January 2022
• Rufus C. Phillips Column: Free Clinics Care for Virginia, January 2022
• Free Clinics Continue Feeling the Strain from Pandemic, January 2022
• Free Clinics Serving the Most Vulnerable Report Strain Amid High Patient Demand, December 2021
• Virginia Free Clinics Seeing Uptick in Patient Demand as COVID-19 Cases Increase, December 2021
• More than 35,000 Children were Vaccinated in the First Week of Virginia's Pediatric Rollout, November 2021
• Virginia Health Organizations Issue Joint Statement Urging Virginians to Vaccinate Against COVID-19, July 2021
• Healthcare for All: VAFCC's Mission to Help Virginia's Underserved, May 2021
• Volunteer Initiative for Free Clinics Uses Clinton Grant, February 2021
• The Case for Strong Partnerships Between Free Clinics and Health System, December 2020
• Northam Sign Revised Biennial Budget, November 2020
• How Virginia's Free Clinics Will Spend CARES Act Funding, November 2020
• Greene Care Clinic Receives COVID-19 Support, November 2020
• Virginia Coronavirus Upates: Officials Worry About New Peak with Winter Weather, October 2020
• Governor Northam Allocates CARES Act Dollars to Help Free Clinics, October 2020
• COVID-19 Hits as Record Number of ALICE Families Priced Out of Survival, July 2020
• Virginia's Primary Care Facilities Want More Resources From State as Demand for Testing Grows, July, 2020
• The Coronavirus Underscores Critical Role of Virginia's Free Clinics, June 2020
• Coronavirus & Protests: Standing Up Against Injustice While Taking Precautions, June 2020
• Virginia Free Clinics Care for More Patients During the Pandemic, as Donations Drop, May 2020
• VCU Grad is Organizing Volunteers to Help Meet Free Clinic Need  Across Virginia, May 2020
• Giving: Delta Dental Donates to Free Clinics, April 2020
• Free Clinics Deal with Volunteer Shortage, Canceled Fundraisers as Economic Hardship Looms, March 2020
• Free Clinics to Receive $1 From Lynchburg Surgery Center, February 2020
• Spanberger Concludes Nine-Stop Healthcare Tour Across Central Virginia, November 2019
• As Medicaid Expands to More Adults, Safety-Net Clinics Adjust, June 2019
• New Hires, Promotions & Departures, May 2019
• Medicaid Expansion Means Critical Role for Virginia’s Free Clinics, December 2018
• With Medicaid Expansion, Rural Virginia Clinics Face a Tough Decision, October 2018
• Virginia Medicaid Expansion Means Free Clinics May Have to Rethink Their Business Models, October 2018