The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) serves as a central hub for a network of over 1,400 free and charitable clinics and pharmacies across the United States. These facilities provide essential healthcare services to uninsured and underinsured individuals, operating as a critical safety net for communities nationwide. The NAFC’s mission is to build healthy communities through quality, equitable, and accessible healthcare, asserting that access to affordable healthcare is a right, not a privilege. This network supports a diverse patient population, including mothers, children, veterans, and the elderly, delivering more than 2 million patient visits annually through the efforts of over 200,000 volunteers and staff.
The services offered by these clinics extend beyond basic medical care. They often provide comprehensive support, including medical, dental, and mental health services. Specific clinics, such as the Fauquier County Free Clinic in Virginia, offer these comprehensive services to residents of Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. Similarly, Good News Clinics focus on managing chronic diseases for those without health insurance. The Clarkston Community Health Center in Georgia, a volunteer-run nonprofit, has provided free care to more than 5,500 immigrants, refugees, and U.S.-born individuals without health insurance since its opening in 2015. In some regions, like Appalachia, mobile nursing units bring healthcare directly to remote communities where access is scarce. In Wisconsin, free clinics are available for the uninsured, with one in Elkhorn specifically serving those who live or work in the area.
Charitable pharmacies represent another vital component of this healthcare safety net. They provide free prescription medications to individuals who cannot afford them, addressing a significant barrier to care. Unlike hospital emergency rooms, where patients might be turned away without payment, charitable pharmacies ensure that necessary medications are accessible. This model is particularly crucial for managing conditions like depression and anxiety, where medication access can be a challenge. Partnerships, such as the one between Direct Relief, the NAFC, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, work to expand access to behavioral health services by providing free medication and grant funding to clinics. Similarly, collaborations with companies like Henry Schein help supply diabetic and cardiovascular disease testing equipment to these clinics, particularly on initiatives like #GivingTuesday.
The impact of these clinics is particularly pronounced in areas with high uninsured rates. For example, Florida has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country, with approximately 2.7 million residents lacking coverage. In response, clinics like one serving hospitality workers in Charleston have opened their doors to this specific demographic, acknowledging the struggle to afford healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the essential role of these clinics, with many remaining operational to provide critical care. During this period, organisations like Direct Relief shipped personal protective equipment (PPE) to approximately 1,000 community health centres and free clinics across all 50 U.S. states.
The NAFC also works to address broader health equity issues. It presents the annual Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Award for Health Equity to individuals and organisations making significant strides in this area. Ilana Steinhauer, Executive Director of the Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, was a recent recipient of this award. The association also engages in advocacy and public education, with its President and CEO, Nicole Lamoureux, frequently discussing the need for free health clinics and the impact of policy changes on these resources.
For individuals seeking care, the NAFC provides a tool to find a clinic or pharmacy near them. These facilities represent a community-based solution to healthcare inequality, ensuring that access to quality, compassionate care is available to those who need it most, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Sources
- National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
- Addressing Healthcare Inequality: Steps Toward Bridging the Gap in 2025
- NAFC Statement on Health Equity and Access for All
- Remembering NAFC Founding Member, Pat White
- Nicole Lamoreaux, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)
- Fauquier Free Clinic continues to see patients – Some operational changes in effect
- Good News Clinics striving to maintain service, but call before you come
- Protective Gear Bound for Approximately 1,000 U.S. Health Centers and Clinics Fighting Covid-19
- Free clinics for the uninsured are available around Wisconsin
- ‘If we’re not here, the people die’: In the forgotten region of Appalachia, health care comes from a wagon
- Uninsured In The Sunshine State
- Charleston hospitality workers can’t pay for health care, so a clinic is offering it for free
- At Charitable Pharmacies, It’s Free
- NPT Power & Influence Top 50 (2021) – Featuring NAFC President and CEO Nicole Lamoureux
- Free Georgia health clinic for uninsured receives $2.5 million to relocate, expand
- For more, visit: https://missionmatters.com/nicole-lamoureux-discusses-providing-communities-with-free-healthcare/
- Sixth Annual RWJF Award for Health Equity Presented by the NAFC Awarded to Ilana Steinhauer
- Direct Relief, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and Teva Pharmaceuticals Partner to Advance Access to Behavioral Health Services
- Eko and the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics Partner to Improve Cardiovascular Care in Medically Underserved Communities
- medical business of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), will provide much-needed diabetic and cardiovascular disease testing supplies
- Nicole Lamoureux Discusses the Role of Free Health Care Clinics
- BD, NAFC and MedShare Expand Health Access, Bring Critical Ultrasound Technology to Free and Charitable Clinics in 30 States
- The Forgotten Millions: Why Rising Uninsured Rates Demand a National Safety Net Strategy