Washington, D.C.: Loss of Funding Threatens Free Clinic's Future

The Washington, D.C. HIV/AIDS administration has pulled federal funding the Washington Free Clinic had received for nearly a decade, reversing previous confirmation that the grant would continue. Founded in 1968, the Free Clinic is the city's oldest low-cost clinic, a small operation run from St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, at 1525 Newton St. NW. The clinic has a staff of 13, a volunteer corps of 50, and cares for about 1,450 patients on a $1.2 million budget. Three-fourths of patients are recent immigrants from Central America and Africa; a tenth are prenatal patients; another 120 have HIV/AIDS.

"The capacity of other clinics to absorb them isn't there," said Carolyn Gardner, Free Clinic's executive director. Gardner admitted the clinic was never strong on fiscal accountability and patient record keeping, and there was no third-party billing for medical care. The clinic had a $300,000 deficit when Gardner arrived in 2001, which is now down to $60,000. This year, the clinic implemented a sliding-fee scale.

Despite such improvements, the clinic learned in January it would not receive a federal AIDS grant worth $275,000 a year. In mid-May, city officials cut the clinic out of another $107,000 of federal funding.

Clinic supporters such as Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) find it galling that the HIV/AIDS Administration, part of the city health department, is likely to have funds left over when its fiscal year ends in September.

D.C. Health Director Gregg Pane said he is looking closely at the clinic's situation "with a sympathetic view" but did not promise funding. He spoke of the city's obligation to give such an organization adequate notice and help with a transition. The clinic's board meets July 11 to decide when to close its doors.

Back to other news for July 1, 2005