On June 14, the Archives of Internal Medicine released a study examining free health clinics caring for the uninsured.  The study found that 1,007 such clinics operate in 49 states and the District of Columbia, serving 1.8 million uninsured individuals annually.  The study examined the clinics’ structures, revenue sources, patient profiles, operations, services, and staff.  The researchers determined that the average operating budget for a free clinic was $287,810.  The authors suggest that policymakers integrate the clinics with other safety-net providers or provide them with direct public funding support.

Darnell, J.S. Free clinics in the United States: a nationwide survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170(11):946-953. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/170/11/946 

Author: Julie S. Darnell