[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4856-H4857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SOUTH CAROLINA FREE MEDICAL CLINICS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  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

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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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