OUR PRACTICE

Exceeding Expectations One Patient at a Time

$2,337,546 in free or reduced prescriptions provided for our patients in 2020.

476 patients were seen in 2020 through 1,527 total appointments.

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In August 2001, three nurse practitioners, Rebecca Goble, Dayle Zanzinger, and Martha Larmer, started the Smyth County Free Clinic, Inc. to aid in the access of primary health care to uninsured, low-income individuals. The clinic’s name was changed to Mel Leaman Free Clinic in 2012 to honor the memory of Mel Leaman, the clinic’s first Executive Director.

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Mel Leaman Free Clinic was developed, because access to primary health care for the working poor was identified as a primary concern in Smyth County. Despite the myriad of assistance programs available to county residents, there are still people needing assistance, especially health and dental services.

The working poor constitute the majority of the uninsured, and those workers between 18 to 64 years old are particularly vulnerable, as they generally do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Even with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), people struggle to access affordable medical services. In fact, free clinics across the country have experienced an increase in the number of patients with the introduction of the ACA.

To further increase the demands for our services, many of our clients are working for minimum wage in small businesses where the luxury of health insurance benefits is not available.

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In an effort to help those in that situation, we have made our primary target the uninsured whose income is less than 300% of the federal poverty level. There are approximately 21,941 persons age 18-64 living at or below 300% of FPL in our service area. That group represented 22.3% of the population. Of those, the US Census Bureau estimates 5,975 do not have health insurance.  Many more do not have dental or vision insurance.

Mel Leaman Free Clinic operates as a private, not-for-profit medical facility and does not receive reimbursement from patients or insurers for services. All operating funds come from donations and grants.

Services we provide include primary medical care, access to vision care, dental care, medication assistance, behavioral health, women’s health, health education, social services, and referrals as appropriate.

The mission of the Mel Leaman Free Clinic is to expand and provide and improve the health care services available to the low-income uninsured in Smyth, Grayson, and Washington counties. This mission is met by providing free medical care and regular health visits to low-income, uninsured residents who cannot afford private paid care.

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Mel Leaman Free Clinic is a tax-exempt non-profit agency governed by a Board of Directors.