VIDEO: Health-care debate overlooks free clinics' struggles

By GottaLaff

Health care at Mission of Mercy, a mobile charity.

Health care without the politics, the screams, threats, Hitler references, lethal weapons, or that persistent death panel lunacy. Just plain old health care... provided the donations hold out:

At the check-in table, new patients were asked one question: "Are you insured?"

The Mission of Mercy, a group of traveling clinics that circulate through towns in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arizona, is one of more than 1,200 free clinics across the nation that are feeling the effects of the economic downturn.

Their patient lists are growing as Americans lose their jobs and their health insurance, but as demand grows with rising unemployment, their donations are dwindling. This year, Mission of Mercy has $350,000 less than it did last year; it takes no government funds for its services. [...]

Over the past year, free clinics across the country have seen a 20 percent decrease in donations and a 40 percent to 50 percent increase in patients, said Nicole D. Lamoureux, the executive director of the National Association of Free Clinics. Last year, the clinics the association represents — which largely have been excluded from the health care debate — treated 4 million people. This year, Lamoureux expects, they'll serve some 8 million, 83 percent of whom come from homes in which at least one person works full time. [...]

Many who come to Mission of Mercy and the Muslim Community Center clinic work 40 hours a week or more, but still can't afford health care.

In the waiting areas of these clinics, most of the patients had no strong opinions on proposed health care changes; they don't have the time or desire to rage at protests. They want to see a doctor without bill collectors showing up at their doors demanding thousands of dollars or having loan officers denying them car and home loans because of their bad credit, they said.

As a doctor in the video said, "We need compassion, we need more volunteers... They pay their taxes... social security... but they'll never ever be able to take advantage of it... I think every person is entitled to health care."