BlueCross Foundation presents SC free medical clinics with $5.25 million | Health

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation presented a check for $5.25 million to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association (SCFCA) on Friday, enabling the 42 member clinics across the state to have a centralized, integrated and multifaceted support system.

The system will include such functions as establishing a statewide certification program and special projects to implement statewide or regional efforts that would strengthen individual clinics’ capabilities

“South Carolina’s free clinics have been taking care of our state’s uninsured citizens for years but they cannot offer quality healthcare services without support from our community, both locally and statewide. The BlueCross Foundation is pleased to present this $5.25 million grant that will be used for central support to collectively strengthen this large network of independent clinics,” said Harvey Galloway, the foundation’s executive director

“The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is an unparalleled ally in ensuring that low-income South Carolinians have access to the quality healthcare services they need and deserve,” said Amanda Berrier, executive director of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association. “This year’s award is unprecedented – it allows us to look beyond providing access to healthcare for our state’s uninsured, to being able to demonstrate as a network that the quality of care free clinic patients receive is allowing them to live healthier lives.

The SCFCA and its members together will receive $1.75 million for each of three years, totaling $5.25 million. (See list of member clinics below

This was the fifth of seven events that the foundation is hosting around the state to present its latest round of grants and honor the recipients in front of community and business leaders along with other dignitaries. Since the foundation was established in 2003, it has allocated more than $37.8 million in South Carolina to address issues such as childhood health, community health, mental health, obesity, diabetes, nursing and health research, and the increasing need for free medical clinics.

South Carolina Free Clinic Association Member Clinics

United Christian Ministries- Abbeville

Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County

Anderson Free Clinic (+ Honea Path satellite)

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic

Beaufort-Jasper VIM

Live Oak Free Health Clinic - Berkeley

Clemson Free Clinic

Community Impact for Christ - Dorchester

Community Initiatives, Inc. - Greenwood

Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County

Crisis Ministries Health Clinic - Charleston

Dillon Free Medical Clinic

Dream Center Clinic – N. Charleston

Edisto Indian Clinic – Dorchester

Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County

Free Medical Clinic of Newberry County

Friendship Medical Clinic (Conway)

Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic - Beaufort

Good Samaritan Medical Clinic - Chester

Good Shepherd Free Clinic - Laurens County

Greenville Free Medical Clinic (+ 3 satellites)

Greenwood Free Clinic

Harvest Free medical Clinic - Charleston

Helping Hands Free Medical Clinic - Mullins

ICNA Relief Shifa Clinic - Mt. Pleasant

Joseph Sullivan Center - Clemson

Le Clinica Del Buen Samaritano - Richland/Lexington

Live Oak Free Health Clinic - Moncks Corner

Mercy Medicine Clinic - Florence

Mercy In Me Free Clinic – Chesterfield

Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine -Rock Hill

Peachtree Medical Clinic – Seneca

Rosa Clark Free Medical Clinic – Seneca

Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County

Smith Medical Clinic - Pawley’s Island

St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic - Spartanburg

Sumpter Free Clinic - St. Stephens

Taylors Free Medical Clinic

The Free Medical Clinic, Inc. - Columbia

Volunteers in Medicine - Hilton Head Island

Woodruff Free Medical Clinic

The Early Learning Partnership of York County