The Kansas City Free Health Clinic’s main location at 3515 Broadway will soon don a new sign out front: Kansas City CARE Clinic. The clinic adopted the name as it prepares for changes to its business model. CARE stands for Care, Access, Research and Education, which leaders say better reflects the clinic's role.
Armed with more than 100 staff members and 1,000 volunteers, the bustling Kansas City Free Health Clinic in midtown is one of the largest free health clinics in the country, treating upward of 15,000 patients a year. “KC Free,” as it’s commonly called, doesn’t charge fees or bill patients for care. It only sees people who are uninsured.
Free health clinics have long been caring for people who have no health coverage and limited resources to pay for private care. That’s why services are free. Well, mostly.