FINANCE
Free Medical Clinics: All You Need To Know
Free Medical Clinics (FMCs) are community healthcare centers that exclusively provide medical services to underprivileged people living in locations without access to conventional medical facilities.
Their personnel are a mixture of volunteers and paid staff who provide medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health services to people who would otherwise be incapable of affording such services.
One major challenge concerning FMCs is that they don’t treat uninsured individuals, thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). This means that people who are unable to apply for ACA such as undocumented migrants and the homeless cant access the services offered by FMCs. The same applies to the poor who have insurance but live in states that lack FMCs.
The situation mentioned above is an indicator that FMCs are not fulfilling their mandate. As a result, the clinic should consider providing resources that will help needy patients apply for ACA and become eligible for treatment.
Typical Patient Population
FMCs provide healthcare services to low-income adults who are uninsured by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals must be residents of the county in which the clinic is situated.
Low-income adults are individuals whose income is the same as or 200% below the federal poverty level (FPL). The eligibility criteria can also vary from one clinic to another. For instance, some clinic will only treat people with specific health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, while others will treat all age groups.
Scope of Services
The majority of free medical clinics offer a range of primary healthcare services to qualified patients. If resources are available, some clinics may provide emergency services, basic dental plans, and attend to cases of mental health complications.
Primary Care Services
FMCs provide primary medical care for minor illnesses and injuries that are not life-threatening. Due to limited facilities, they cannot perform the functions of a fully equipped 24/7 emergency clinic, which means that they incapable of handling severe injuries and diseases.
Although each clinic specializes in different services, the majority treat minor illnesses such as headaches, sore throats, common colds, coughs, and stomach complications. They also test and provide treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some clinics may offer prescriptions and gynecological services. If an FMC cannot treat a particular problem, they will refer the patient to a bigger facility.
Mental and Behavioral Health Services
If an FMC has qualified special needs assistants, it can provide a range of mental and behavioral health services. This usually covers outpatient counseling and psychiatry services for mild to moderate metal conditions. Some clinics offer treatment to victims of drug and substance abuse and provide counseling services to HIV positive individuals.
Dental Services
Clinics whose medical care plans include dental services offer routine oral examinations, cavity fillings, teeth cleaning, tooth extraction, and x-rays. FMCs with more resources may offer select root canal, sealant, and fluoride treatments. Overall, FMCs do not provide dentures, crown and bridgework, dental implants, braces, and teeth whitening.
Funding and Support
FMCS get their resources from sponsorships, fundraising, grants, and donated supplies.
Sponsorship
The primary sponsor dictates the character of an FMC and the extent of the services it offers. The sponsors can be individual or organizations such as hospitals, medical association, secular communities, religious organizations, and foundations.
Fundraising
FMCs usually receive little or no support from the government. As a result, they often resort to organizing fundraisers and reaching out to wealthy individuals and humanitarian organizations for monetary support. To avoid a clash with the tax authorities, the FMC should ensure that the contribution is ‘designated for the use of’ a charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 170 (a).
Grants
Grants are a significant source of funding for free medical clinics. They can come from businesses, foundations, or even government agencies. To get a grant, the FMC must submit a proposal and budget. In return, they are expected to comply with terms issued by the body which issues the grant.
Donated Supplies
Donated supplies often come from companies operating in the healthcare industry. For instance, the clinic may approach a local hospital to ask for supplies such as office equipment, drugs, equipment, and even personnel.
Pharmaceutical companies may also offer assistance to FMCs. For instance, they can provide drugs for free or at subsidized prices for patients who would otherwise be unable to afford the medication. In exchange, the FMC can either distribute the drugs directly or recommend the patient to the company so that they get the drugs from there.
Free Medical Clinics (FMCs) are community healthcare centers that exclusively provide medical services to underprivileged people living in locations without access to conventional medical facilities.
Their personnel are a mixture of volunteers and paid staff who provide medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health services to people who would otherwise be incapable of affording such services.
One major challenge concerning FMCs is that they don’t treat uninsured individuals, thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). This means that people who are unable to apply for ACA such as undocumented migrants and the homeless cant access the services offered by FMCs. The same applies to the poor who have insurance but live in states that lack FMCs.
The situation mentioned above is an indicator that FMCs are not fulfilling their mandate. As a result, the clinic should consider providing resources that will help needy patients apply for ACA and become eligible for treatment.
Typical Patient Population
FMCs provide healthcare services to low-income adults who are uninsured by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals must be residents of the county in which the clinic is situated.
Low-income adults are individuals whose income is the same as or 200% below the federal poverty level (FPL). The eligibility criteria can also vary from one clinic to another. For instance, some clinic will only treat people with specific health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, while others will treat all age groups.
Scope of Services
The majority of free medical clinics offer a range of primary healthcare services to qualified patients. If resources are available, some clinics may provide emergency services, basic dental plans, and attend to cases of mental health complications.
Primary Care Services
FMCs provide primary medical care for minor illnesses and injuries that are not life-threatening. Due to limited facilities, they cannot perform the functions of a fully equipped 24/7 emergency clinic, which means that they incapable of handling severe injuries and diseases.
Although each clinic specializes in different services, the majority treat minor illnesses such as headaches, sore throats, common colds, coughs, and stomach complications. They also test and provide treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some clinics may offer prescriptions and gynecological services. If an FMC cannot treat a particular problem, they will refer the patient to a bigger facility.
Mental and Behavioral Health Services
If an FMC has qualified special needs assistants, it can provide a range of mental and behavioral health services. This usually covers outpatient counseling and psychiatry services for mild to moderate metal conditions. Some clinics offer treatment to victims of drug and substance abuse and provide counseling services to HIV positive individuals.
Dental Services
Clinics whose medical care plans include dental services offer routine oral examinations, cavity fillings, teeth cleaning, tooth extraction, and x-rays. FMCs with more resources may offer select root canal, sealant, and fluoride treatments. Overall, FMCs do not provide dentures, crown and bridgework, dental implants, braces, and teeth whitening.
Funding and Support
FMCS get their resources from sponsorships, fundraising, grants, and donated supplies.
Sponsorship
The primary sponsor dictates the character of an FMC and the extent of the services it offers. The sponsors can be individual or organizations such as hospitals, medical association, secular communities, religious organizations, and foundations.
Fundraising
FMCs usually receive little or no support from the government. As a result, they often resort to organizing fundraisers and reaching out to wealthy individuals and humanitarian organizations for monetary support. To avoid a clash with the tax authorities, the FMC should ensure that the contribution is ‘designated for the use of’ a charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 170 (a).
Grants
Grants are a significant source of funding for free medical clinics. They can come from businesses, foundations, or even government agencies. To get a grant, the FMC must submit a proposal and budget. In return, they are expected to comply with terms issued by the body which issues the grant.
Donated Supplies
Donated supplies often come from companies operating in the healthcare industry. For instance, the clinic may approach a local hospital to ask for supplies such as office equipment, drugs, equipment, and even personnel.
Pharmaceutical companies may also offer assistance to FMCs. For instance, they can provide drugs for free or at subsidized prices for patients who would otherwise be unable to afford the medication. In exchange, the FMC can either distribute the drugs directly or recommend the patient to the company so that they get the drugs from there.