Medical

More than 674,000 non-elderly (0-64 years old) Virginians do not have health insurance. Many suffer from chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Others have serious diseases that go undetected because they are unable to pay for screenings.

These Virginians see their diseases run out of control. They suffer strokes, heart attacks, and other preventable crises. Instead of receiving inexpensive preventive care and regular treatment for chronic diseases, many of these Virginians wind up hospitalized and with their lives and future health at risk.

VHCF helps make primary health care available for thousands of these uninsured Virginians each year.

How VHCF is Helping

VHCF grants to health safety net providers (free clinics, community health centers, and others) have expanded the availability of medical, dental, and behavioral health care throughout the Commonwealth, including:

  • Establishing community health centers in medically underserved areas of the state.
  • Underwriting the salaries of physicians or physician assistants to bring care to underserved communities.
  • Funding the salaries of full-time nurse practitioners to enable free clinics to provide more patient visits and deliver greater continuity of care.
  • Broadening the scope of services provided at free clinics and community health centers, allowing them to grow beyond primary medical care and provide specialty medical clinics, dental, or mental health services.
  • “Bricks and mortar” assistance to allow health centers to expand to better serve their communities.
  • Grants for education and outreach to help patients better control chronic diseases.
  • Technology funding to establish telemedicine links between major medical centers and remote or rural communities.

In addition to providing health care safety net grants to improve access to medical care across the Commonwealth, VHCF assists safety net providers through:

Through these and other programs and grants, the Virginia Health Care Foundation is achieving its mission of improving access to primary care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.

 

Last Updated on February 9, 2021

Changing Lives ›

Blindsided by a health crisis

James had a solid job and comprehensive health insurance. He lost both in the recession. With his income gone, James eventually had to go without the insulin that helped control his diabetes. He know about the local free clinic, but thought it was for other people, not professionals like him. Finally, with his vision deteriorating, […]

Read More