Governor Nikki Haley, SC Senate and House and honor South Carolina’s Free Clinic Network
May 18, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – May 18, 2012 – On February 28th, 2012, Senator ThomasAlexander introduced a bill in the Senate to declare May 22, 2012 asSouth Carolina Free Clinic Awareness Day. Governor Nikki Haley and Rep.Bill Sandifer from the SC House soon followed suit. Hundreds ofvolunteers, staff, and supporters from SC’s Free Clinic network willgather at the statehouse next Tuesday to be recognized for their work incommunities throughout the state.
“Free Clinics are so vital to our communities across South Carolina”Senator Alexander said. “A ‘Day of Awareness’ will allow us torecognize the positive input the free clinics have on providing healthservices to our citizens.”
According to the most recent data, roughly one in six South Carolinianshas no health insurance. The number one reason they give for not havinghealth insurance is that they cannot afford it. And that’s a problem forall South Carolinians. People without health insurance are more likelyto delay needed medical care until they become very ill. They are morelikely to go without screenings or preventive care. Often, emergencyrooms become the inappropriate source of primary care
At 50 sites throughout South Carolina, Free Clinics are dedicated toproviding medically essential, quality health care services, regardlessof the patient’s ability to pay. Free Clinics operate with financialsupport from foundations, fundraisers and individual donations, andthrough the efficient use of donated supplies and volunteer providerservices. The heart and soul of free clinics are the dedicatedvolunteers. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and community activists whocare for the patients, answer the phones, input data, etc. allow theFree Clinics to take care of patients at little or no charge.
“Free Clinics are on the front lines of the safety net, providingquality healthcare for those who have nowhere else to turn. Many of ourpatients work in low-paying jobs that do not provide health insurance,but they do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. They are the folks whoare falling through the cracks in our system” said Amanda Berrier,executive director of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association(SCFCA).
The economic impact of Free Clinics in communities is significant. Treating a patient in a free clinic costs approximately $68 –the samecare in a hospital emergency room costs an average of $1600. The savingsto our state’s healthcare economy is enormous. In 2011, Free Clinicsprovided healthcare for more than 52,000 patients, providing over120,000 patient visits and over 15,000 referrals for specialty care.Free Clinics provided more than $60,000,000 worth of healthcare to theirpatients at little or no cost to the patient and at no cost totaxpayers.
Statewide business leaders also recognize the value of Free Clinics. TheBlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation recently presented acheck for $5.25 million to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association,enabling the 50 clinic sites across the state to have a centralized,integrated and multifaceted support system. The system will include suchfunctions as establishing a statewide certification program and specialprojects to implement statewide or regional efforts that wouldstrengthen individual clinics’ capabilities. The SCFCA and its memberstogether will receive $1.75 million for each of three years, totaling$5.25 million.
About the South Carolina Free Clinic Association
Founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the S.C. HospitalAssociation, SCFCA is now an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit membershiporganization that provides training and technical assistance, research,resource development and advocacy to free clinics throughout SouthCarolina. SCFCA represents and supports our state’s network of 42 memberclinics located at 50 sites, which provides comprehensive health careto the uninsured. (See list of member clinics below)
South Carolina Free Clinic Association Member Clinics
United Christian Ministries- Abbeville
Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County
Anderson Free Clinic (+ Honea Path satellite)
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
Beaufort-Jasper VIM
Live Oak Free Health Clinic – Berkeley
Clemson Free Clinic
Community Impact for Christ – Dorchester
Community Initiatives, Inc. – Greenwood
Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County
Crisis Ministries Health Clinic – Charleston
Dillon Free Medical Clinic
Dream Center Clinic – N. Charleston
Edisto Indian Clinic – Dorchester
Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County
Free Medical Clinic of Newberry County
Friendship Medical Clinic (Conway)
Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic – Beaufort
Good Samaritan Medical Clinic – Chester
Good Shepherd Free Clinic – Laurens County
Greenville Free Medical Clinic (+ 3 satellites)
Greenwood Free Clinic
Harvest Free medical Clinic – Charleston
Helping Hands Free Medical Clinic – Mullins
ICNA Relief Shifa Clinic – Mt. Pleasant
Joseph Sullivan Center – Clemson
Le Clinica Del Buen Samaritano – Richland/Lexington
Live Oak Free Health Clinic – Moncks Corner
Mercy Medicine Clinic – Florence
Mercy In Me Free Clinic – Chesterfield
Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine -Rock Hill
Peachtree Medical Clinic – Seneca
Rosa Clark Free Medical Clinic – Seneca
Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County
Smith Medical Clinic – Pawley’s Island
St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic – Spartanburg
Sumpter Free Clinic – St. Stephens
Taylors Free Medical Clinic
The Free Medical Clinic, Inc. – Columbia
Volunteers in Medicine – Hilton Head Island
Woodruff Free Medical Clinic
The Early Learning Partnership of York County
