South Carolina Free Medical Clinics

Floor Speech

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Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell this body about a tremendous success story with healthcare in my district: the story of our free medical clinics and their membership in and longtime association with the South Carolina Free Clinic Association.

Founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Free Clinic Association is an independent, nonprofit membership organization that provides training, research, resource development, and advocacy to member free clinics.

Additionally, the South Carolina Free Clinic Association was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in January of 2008.

The South Carolina Free Clinic Association represents and supports our State's network of 40 free clinics in 25 counties across South Carolina. The member free clinics provide comprehensive care to economically disadvantaged individuals all across our great State, including those individuals who are both uninsured and/or underinsured.

The South Carolina Free Clinic Association is the only statewide organization that supports and advocates for South Carolina's free clinic network and for the various and truly diverse populations they serve.

South Carolina Free Clinic Association is improving the quality and access of healthcare to South Carolina's medically underserved individuals and communities. The South Carolina Free Clinic Association does this by assisting their members to be valued and engaged partners in their communities' systems of care.

Through financial support from foundations, fundraisers, and individual donations and through the efficient use of donated supplies and volunteer provider services, South Carolina's free clinics were responsible for the following activities and achievements in 2017: $108,839,801 total value of services provided; 363,369 prescriptions which were filled; 40,062 patients were treated; 4,442 volunteers; and 40 member clinics in 65 sites across South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, free clinics are truly vital, safety net healthcare organizations that utilize a volunteer and staff model to provide a range of healthcare services, which may include medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals.

Such clinics are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or operate as a program component or affiliate of a 501(c)(3) organization. Entities that otherwise meet the above definition but charge a nominal or sliding fee to patients may still be considered free clinics provided essential services are delivered regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

Free clinics limit eligibility for their services to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, and/or have limited access or no access to primary, specialty, or prescription healthcare.

Every free clinic is unique. Each clinic has its own qualification guidelines. But they all serve low-income and no-income patients without health insurance who do not qualify for government assistance.

In addition to general medical and prescription services, free clinics may offer such services as oral health, specialty services and referrals, lab testing, diagnostic procedures, and health education and prevention, as well as prescription medications.

Free clinics are independent, community-based, nonprofit organizations that rely on grants and donations from their communities for support. Clinics have a varied base of community support, which includes but is not limited to individuals, businesses, churches, foundations, and government.

I would like to recognize and applaud the efforts of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and its executive director, Virginia Ann Mullikin, for their support of more than 40,000 South Carolina families.

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