free clinics see sharp rise in patient visits [Video]

That increase comes on top of the 28% increase the clinics saw in fiscal year 2023.

Much of this increased use is coming from the roughly 376,000 Virginians who have lost Medicaid coverage. The state is resuming normal eligibility and re-enrollment practices with the end of the federal emergency funds that allowed state Medicaid officials to suspend these rules during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Clinics are seeing more uninsured patients, and we expect this trend to continue as Medicaid unwinding wraps up,” said Rufus Phillips, chief executive officer of the free clinics’ association.

Clinics expect to see still more patients, because Virginia’s Medicaid agency still needs to review eligibility for about 206,000 people.

Inflation, too, has been leading people to free clinics, as they try to stretch paychecks to cover rising food, housing and energy costs.

Patients’ need for dental and mental health care are also straining free clinics’ resources.