Local Free Medical Programs

Uncompensated Care Programs, Organized by County

Richmond County

  • Project Access
    • The Richmond County Medical Society started the program in July 2002.
    • To qualify, a patient must:
      • Be a resident of Richmond or Columbia Counties
      • Between the ages of 19 and 64
      • Family income not to exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
      • Have No other form of insurance
    • There are more than 300 participating physicians who donate their services to our patients in their private offices at no charge to the patient.
    • University Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital and Walton Rehab Hospital have agreed to accept referrals from Project Access doctors and NOT bill the patients for inpatient or outpatient care and any associated diagnostic testing.
    • The pharmacy community provides prescriptive benefits at a discounted rate. The patient pays $5 per prescription and Project Access pays the balance from funding received from the local county governments. The program seeks and uses donated prescriptions whenever possible.
    • Project Access screens all patients for eligibility, prints and mails their identification card and schedules their appointments. The coverage must be renewed every 90 days as many patients move, gain health insurance or obtain a job earning above the 150 percent.
    • We currently have more than 500 active patients and have served nearly 3,000 patients since 2002.