The growing demand for affordable health care for Ohioans

For thousands of Ohioans, free and charitable clinics are the only option for accessible, high-quality health care.

Why it's important: Health affordability ranks as the top health care concern for Americans, according to a recent poll from Gallup and Emory.

• This concern highlights the growing reliance on organizations like Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN), which serves as Ohio's health care safety net.

What you need to know: CHN clinics remove traditional barriers to care including the potential burden of medical debt.

• The statewide network of free and charitable clinics ensures everyone has access to the health care they need, regardless of their financial situation, including access to primary care, specialty services, vision, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services.
• CHN supports a network of 56 free clinics, charitable pharmacies and providers, and serves 86 of Ohio's 88 counties.

The impact: These clinics have provided more than 715,000 health care services over the past year, a nearly 10% increase from 2023.

Why now: In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 712,613 Ohioans were uninsured.

Without CHN clinics…

• Many of these individuals would be forced to forgo preventive care, leading to worsening health conditions.
• Patients would need to rely on emergency rooms, where a single visit can cost $3,000 or more, an expense often passed on to hospitals, insurers and taxpayers.

CHN's 2024 activity reflects the growing demand for affordable health care for uninsured and underinsured Ohioans, plus working families, caregivers, small business owners, students, retirees and people between jobs.

In other words: These clinics ensure no one has to choose between their health and financial security.

• "Ohio's free and charitable clinics are a lifeline for thousands of people who would otherwise have nowhere to turn for healthcare," says CHN's executive director Jason Koma. "The need for these services continues to grow, and we must maintain access to quality, free healthcare. When people have access to the care they need, we see healthier communities, a stronger workforce and a reduced burden on hospitals."
• "Without this clinic, I wouldn't be here," said Cheryl Holcomb, a CHN patient describing the life-saving care she received at the Lake County Free Clinic in Painesville

Take note: With support from Governor DeWine, the Ohio legislature and Ohio Department of Health, CHN was allocated $1.75 million a year in the state's biennial budget.

• The total value of care provided in 2024 reached $224 million, underscoring the vital role these clinics play in preventing costly medical emergencies, keeping Ohioans healthy, and reducing the financial strain on hospitals and taxpayers.

The takeaway: Investing in free healthcare access means investing in stronger communities, a healthier workforce and a more stable healthcare system. Ensuring the continued availability of these clinics benefits everyone.

• Continued funding for CHN is a proven, cost-effective way to strengthen Ohio's communities, keep workers healthy and ensure no one falls through the cracks of the healthcare system.

Dive deeper into CHN's mission — and impact.