Free clinics urge continued state funding as demand and dental needs rise

Vermont’s Free and Referral Clinics and the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic told a legislative committee that a state legislative appropriation managed by the Department of Health is critical to keeping a network of free clinics open and responding to rising demand.

"Vermont’s Free and Referral Clinics, VFRC, is a statewide association that serves eight free health care clinics," Olivia Sherrow, executive director of Vermont’s Free and Referral Clinics, said. "All services provided at these clinics are free, always. There's no billing, no insurance billing, no sliding fee scale."

Sherrow told the committee the network cared for more than 13,000 patients in 2024; more than one quarter of those patients were uninsured and 45 percent were underinsured. She said about 20 percent of patients did not have a primary care provider, more than 40 percent were at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and roughly 10 percent of patients are best served in languages other than English.

"Our primary funding source is a legislative appropriation. It's just over $1,500,000 and it's managed by the Department of Health," Sherrow said.…