About Free Clinics

Ensuring Virginia's underserved have access to quality care.

Clinics are safety-net health care organizations that utilize a volunteer/staff model to provide a range of 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/sliding fee to patients, may still be considered free or charitable clinics provided essential services are delivered regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

Free and charitable clinics treat the whole patient by providing a combination of care that addresses not only healthcare needs but also social needs including: primary care, chronic care, specialty care, dental care, pharmaceutical care, vision care, women’s health, mental health, health education, case management, care coordination, and various supportive services. 

 

Access to quality healthcare is the key to good health.

Virginia’s free and charitable clinics have a long history of providing much needed quality healthcare to Virginia’s low-income, uninsured populations – and providing that care with compassion, dignity and respect. By delivering important preventative and chronic care, Virginia’s free and charitable clinics help patients remain healthy, reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room, and avoid missed time from work due to illness.

 

The History of Free Clinics in Virginia

In the late 1980s while the need for care among uninsured and underserved communities was growing, free clinics across Virginia faced a critical roadblock in their ability to recruit volunteer physicians. The reason being that most private insurance policies and even Virginia’s own Good Samaritan Law, did not protect physicians volunteering their time in these clinics from malpractice suits. Without legal protection, many willing providers were forced to stay on the sidelines, leaving clinics struggling to offer the quality care their communities desperately needed.

A determined group of clinic directors came together, united by a simple conviction: if the law was the barrier, then the law must change. Through tireless advocacy and coalition-building, they successfully secured an expansion of the state’s liability coverage to include volunteer physicians in free clinics, a transformative shift that opened the door to a new wave of skilled, compassionate volunteer providers.

Emboldened by that victory, these same leaders wondered what more could be achieved if we worked together? The answer came in 1993, with the formation of the Virginia Association of Free Clinics (VAFC) as the first statewide association of free clinics in the nation. Built on a foundation of collaboration and shared purpose, the VAFC was created to strengthen and sustain Virginia’s network of free clinics, advocate for the communities they serve, and ensure that healthcare access is never out of reach for those who need it most.

Now known as the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (VAFCC), this spirit still drives the organization today to be a powerful force for health equity, policy change, and compassionate care across the Commonwealth.

1970 - A Movement Begins

• The Fan Free Clinic opens in Richmond as the first free clinic in Virginia (today, it is known as the Health Brigade). This grassroots initiative proved that communities could create their own solutions to healthcare inequality, laying the groundwork for a statewide movement.

1980s - Building a Foundation

• Clinic leaders successfully advocate for state liability coverage for volunteer physicians, allowing medical professionals to serve without fear of malpractice exposure. With the legal barrier removed, more physicians joined the cause fueling growth, trust, and capacity in free clinics across the Commonwealth.

1990s - Uniting, Organizaing & Mobilizing

• In 1991, the first statewide free clinic meeting was held when leaders from across Virginia come together for the first time to share challenges and collaborate. This meeting marked the beginning of a united voice for community clinics statewide.
• The Virginia Association of Free Clinics (VAFC) is officially formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an all-volunteer board and 21 founding member clinics, making Virginia the first state in the U.S. to establish a statewide free clinic association.
• The VAFC hires its first full-time executive director and holds the first Free Clinic Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly, marking the beginning its organized advocacy to influence healthcare policy.
• VAFC becomes a blueprint for other state associations forming across the country with North Carolina follows Virginia’s lead. 
• The Virginia General Assembly approves $600,000 in state appropriations to free clinics with the VAFC serving as fiscal agent.This formalized state support for free clinics, recognizing them as essential components of the state's healthcare delivery system.

2000s - From Statewide Influence to National Presence

• The VAFC plays a central role in the formation of the National Association of Free Clinics, hosting its inaugural board meeting at the VAFC annual conference. 

2010s - Adapting & Expanding

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is enacted 2010, expanding coverage options but leaving some gaps. The VAFC helps clinics adapt to a shifting landscape while continue to care for those still in need.
• Recognizing its evolving membership, the VAFC becomes the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) in 1993.
• After years of relentless advocacy, Virginia expands Medicaid for adults up to 138% FPL. A major victory for healthcare access and a testament to sustained policy engagement. Sentara Health give $1.5 million to support clinics in reaching and serving newly eligible Medicaid patients, the largest one-time donation in VAFCC history, resulting in eleven clinics become “hybrids” and serving both Medicaid and uninsured patients.

Early 2020s - COVID Crisis Response & Recovery

• As the pandemic unfolds, clinics rapidly adopt telehealth, implement safety protocols, and help preserve hospital capacity. The VAFCC secures $3 million in CARES Act funds to support member clinics as they step up as community lifeline.
• Clinics launch post-COVID care programs and join state vaccine distribution efforts, ensuring access for vulnerable populations. The VAFCC secures $5 million in ARPA funding for continued pandemic response.

 Mid-2020s - Strengthening the Safety Net