Fact Check: "Last year, free clinics reported 6 million patient visits."
What We Know
The claim that "last year, free clinics reported 6 million patient visits" is not accurate. According to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), free and charitable clinics served approximately 5.8 million patient visits in 2022. This figure is slightly lower than the 6 million mentioned in the claim. Additionally, the NAFC reported that in 2021, the total patient visits were around 6.2 million, indicating a decline in the number of visits in 2022.
Furthermore, a report from the 2022 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey indicates that health centers, which include free clinics, had an estimated total of 89.5 million visits by adults in the United States. This figure encompasses a broader category of health centers and does not specifically isolate free clinics.
Analysis
The claim of 6 million patient visits likely stems from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the data provided by the NAFC. The NAFC's report clearly states that the total visits were 5.8 million in 2022, which is a significant discrepancy from the claim. This number represents the total visits across all free and charitable clinics, thus indicating that the claim is inflated.
Moreover, the NAFC is a credible source, as it is a recognized organization dedicated to supporting free and charitable clinics across the United States. Their data is collected from member clinics and is regularly published in their annual reports. The reliability of their statistics is further supported by their consistent tracking of patient visits over the years, as seen in the 2023 data report.
On the other hand, the broader data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey provides context for the overall healthcare landscape, but it does not specifically validate the claim regarding free clinics. This distinction is crucial, as it emphasizes that while free clinics are part of the healthcare system, their specific patient visit statistics differ from those of all health centers combined.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "last year, free clinics reported 6 million patient visits" is false. The accurate figure reported by the NAFC for 2022 is approximately 5.8 million patient visits. This discrepancy indicates that the claim is an overestimation of the actual data.
Sources
- Visits to Health Centers Among Adults, by Selected Characteristics
- The vital role of free clinics in providing access to healthcare
- PDF Fiscal Year 2022 Free Clinic Funding Summary Report
- Community Based Health Care Program Annual Report 2022
- Free and Charitable Clinics Served 5.8 Million in 2022 - NAFC
- Improving Patient Care: Expansion of Access to Free Clinics
- Download Chrome - Google Help
- PDF Nafc Data Report 2023