Concerned groups unite to create guidelines
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – CHICAGO- Today the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation and The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) released a set of guidelines to help health care providers and community leaders overcome legal and operational hurdles often encountered in establishing free or charitable medical clinics in underserved communities.
The AMA Foundation and AHLA collaborated with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics to co-published The Legal and Operational Guide for Free Medical Clinics, which is now available for free download atwww.healthlawyers.org/
AMA Foundation President William E. Kobler, MD described the invaluable collaboration as helpful for the uninsured and beneficial for the country: “There are many barriers to care access for those without insurance. Free clinics provide an important avenue to help meet the medical needs of our country’s uninsured. There are also many legal issues involved in the establishment of free clinics.”
The guide steers clinic organizers through common obstacles such as volunteer recruitment, tax-exemption, physician credentialing, board member obligations, fundraising, staff safety, patient privacy, insurance, and health care quality.
“This document will be an invaluable resource to existing centers and will encourage and facilitate the development of new clinics,” Dr. Kobler continued. “I am proud that physicians and lawyers have been able to work together to support free clinics as a part of the safety-net for these vulnerable citizens.”
Free or charitable clinics are a critical safety net for millions of under- and uninsured individuals. While the creation of more clinics will not eliminate the number of under- and uninsured individuals, it does improve the lack of access to care experienced by our most economically disadvantaged populations.
“Ten years ago when I helped start the Grace Clinics of Delaware (Ohio), a resource such as this would have been incredibly valuable. It will certainly help lawyers like me to assist our communities and navigate the complexities of setting up free clinics,” said Peter A. Pavarini of Squire Patton Boggs, AHLA’s Immediate Past President, and contributor to the development of the guide.
Despite the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) the need for free clinics continues to be a pressing issue with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that as many as 31 million Americans will remain uninsured following full implementation of the ACA. Most patients served by free clinics are unable to afford care, are undocumented immigrants, or live in a state has not expand the Medicaid program.
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