The Columbus Dispatch published a 3-part rural health story, featuring CHN and Hope Clinic of Ross County as the cover story. Check out the original article in the Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio Valley Health Center was recently featured in the Herald-Star for successfully providing its first in-house echocardiogram. The center made an exciting investment last year by purchasing an echocardiogram machine, which now enables them to analyze heart health and diagnose heart disease more effectively.

Our partners at the NAFC have provided this advocacy update on the beginning of the Trump administration.

Free Clinic Appreciation Month is celebrated in Ohio throughout December. As we close this year’s observance, it’s important to highlight not just the collective impact of free clinics but also the individuals who bring this mission to life.

Ohio University Heritage Community Clinic is the 2024 Free Clinic of the Year. This honor celebrates the clinic’s dedication to improving health outcomes for underserved populations in Southeast Ohio through innovative, patient-centered care.

Lois Wiggin is the 2024 Free Clinic Staff Member of the Year award winner. Wiggin serves as an OSHIIP Certified Counselor and Prescription Assistance Specialist at Health Partners Free Clinic in Troy, Ohio.

Cardinal Health Foundation is the 2024 Community Partner of the Year. This award honors the Foundation’s exceptional commitment to advancing health equity, fostering innovation and addressing barriers to medication access for underserved communities across Ohio.

Kent Doherty, DO, is the 2024 Free Clinic Physician of the Year. A founding physician of Grace Clinics of Ohio, Dr. Doherty has dedicated his life to improving access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare for underserved populations.

Daniel Stowe, DDS, is the 2024 Free Clinic Dentist of the Year award winner. Dr. Stowe has been instrumental in transforming lives through his role at Stowe Mission Dental in Columbus, Ohio.

Melanie Loftus, PharmD, R.Ph, is the 2024 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year. Loftus serves as the Pharmacy Director at the Hope Clinic of Ross County, where her leadership, passion and dedication have transformed lives and expanded access to care for underserved populations across 14 counties in Ohio.

We honor Courtney's unwavering commitment to improving access to healthcare for those who need it most and exemplifies the mission of the Lake County Free Clinic.

Donna Kramer is awarded Free Clinic Volunteer of the Year. Kramer is a dedicated volunteer for MedWish Medworks, contributing her time, expertise and boundless energy to improving the lives of underserved individuals throughout Cleveland, Ohio.

State Senator Jerry Cirino joined CHN Executive Director to tour the Lake County Free Clinic (LCFC) on October 4th. Andrea Londono Shishehbor, DDS, Interim Executive Director of LCFC, and Sue Deming, RN, Board Chair of LCFC provided an update on the growth of the clinic and its role in delivering high-quality care.

At the St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Pharmacy (SVDPCP) in Cincinnati, Lydia Bailey, PharmD, improves health outcomes for the underserved and trains student pharmacists. In recognition of her remarkable life of service to the community, Lydia Bailey was awarded the 2024 William L. Robinson Young Alumni Award by Ohio Northern University.

The Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is honored to recognize Paul Baumgartner, executive director of the Lorain County Free Clinic, for his appointment as president of the CHN Board of Directors, according to a news release.

Lake County Free Clinic Executive Director Andrea Londono-Shishehbor, DDS, and CHN Executive Director Jason Koma were featured guests on The Sound of Ideas on Aug. 6. The "Sound of Ideas" is Ideastream Public Media's weekday morning news and information program focusing on Northeast Ohio. 

The Columbus Messenger featured LifeCare Alliance and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center's new partnership that will significantly enhance access to breast cancer screening and diagnostics for underserved individuals across Ohio.

Over one hundred leaders from free clinics and charitable provider organizations in Ohio descended upon Columbus last week for the CHN’s Annual Safety-Net Symposium. The event’s theme, “Inspiring Healthy Communities” personified the two-day affair beginning with a celebration of the 2023 Free Clinic Appreciation Month awards. On Thursday, speakers provided educational updates to support free clinics and charitable providers, including various breakout sessions.

St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy - Cincinnati has recently opened its third location in Milford! Congratulations to CHN's valued member, SVDP, for their dedication to serving the southwest Ohio communities and expanding their care to the most vulnerable. SVDP's efforts have ensured that more patients east of Cincinnati have access to their lifesaving medications.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Grace Clinics of Ohio as the 2023 Free Clinic of the Year Award winner.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Jessica Sciuva as the 2023 Free Clinic Volunteer of the Year Award winner for her work at the Columbus Free Clinic (CFC).

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Anthony Mougianis, from Apollo Pro Cleaning & Restoration as the 2023 Free Clinic Community Partner of the Year Award winner for his support of the Ohio Valley Health Center (OVHC) in Steubenville.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Richard Paat, MD as the 2023 Free Clinic Physician of the Year Award winner for his work with the  CommunityCare Clinics (CCC) in Toledo.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Kendra Donnelly as the 2023 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year Award winner for her support of Rising Suns Pharmacy in Athens, Ohio.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Shanetta Sutton, DDS as the 2023 Free Clinic Dentist of the Year Award winner. Dr. Sutton is a dentist at Good Neighbor House (GHN) in Dayton and a member of the organization’s administrative staff.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Elvira Gomez as the 2023 Free Clinic Staff of the Year Award winner.  Gomez serves as the Hispanic Outreach Manager at St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati where she manages patient advocates and bilingual volunteers.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Kathy Magee, CNP as the 2023 Free Clinic Nurse of the Year Award winner. Magee serves as a nurse practitioner with LifeCare Alliance’s Columbus Cancer Clinic.

Today is Giving Tuesday! There are numerous incredible organizations in our network that are doing amazing work, and they need help to continue making a positive impact. Please consider donating to CHN this Giving Tuesday.

Congratulations to LifeCare for their outstanding achievement in winning the PrimaryOne Healthcare Justice award! Its mission to serve Ohio's most vulnerable is evident in its daily efforts to accept and support all those in need.

CHN is thrilled to recognize the accomplishment of St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Pharmacy's Operations Manager, CHN is thrilled to recognize the accomplishment of St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Pharmacy's  Operations Manager, Lydia Bailey, PharmD, BCACP, who was recently highlighted in Pharmacy Times!

November 1st marks the opening of enrollment for 2024 HealthCare.Gov Marketplace plans. Review plans and prices now! These affordable health plans cover a variety of preventive, diagnostic, and emergency care needs. Enroll or renew from November 1 to December 15 for coverage to start January 1. 

Ohio made a strong presence at the 2023 National Association of Free Clinics Charitable Healthcare Symposium. The Charitable Healthcare Network members, along with the University of Toledo CommunityCare Clinics and Columbus Free Clinic, delivered impactful sessions and poster presentations at the event.

To help those facing breast cancer, awareness alone isn’t enough. This October, CHN invites you to get involved. Get screened. Make a donation. Take action. We're stronger together, so let's make this month about more than awareness.

Cardinal Health and CHN are joining forces to increase access to medications for underserved Ohioans.

Thank you to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for having CHN at the Combined Charitable Campaign Kick-off Event.

Congratulations to SVDP Charitable Pharmacy for being a recipient of the APhA Foundation Pinnacle Award! The Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati (SVDP) is a network of neighbors, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.

As of May 27, non-profit free clinics and charitable pharmacies can begin accepting donations of medications from the general public. However, to do so, organizations must operate a drug repository program registered with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

CHN is excited to welcome Tallis All as our Operations Intern!

Tallis is a student at The Ohio State University earning her B.S. in Public Health. This summer, she will be supporting CHN operations, learning management techniques, and assisting with various projects and tasks within the organization. Tallis will be connecting with CHN members in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

Everyone who is covered by Medicaid MUST respond to a request for information from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. You will receive a renewal packet in the mail - you must complete & return this packet to keep coverage. No longer eligible? We provide free, unbiased help with enrolling in affordable health coverage through the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.Gov. Contact Get Covered Ohio Navigators at 833-628-4467 or by making an appointment at getcoveredohio.org.

The first of what is expected to be at least 220,000 Ohioans have had their coverage terminated as the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) continues to move forward with resuming normal Medicaid operations, including redetermining eligibility for the first time since March 2020. 

The Ohio House of Representatives passed the $88 billion two-year state operating budget on April 26 with an increase in Free Clinic Safety-Net Funding!

More than 100 members and supporters of the Charitable Healthcare Network converged in Columbus last week for the CHN Annual Safety-Net Symposium and Annual Meeting.

CHN is excited to announce the addition of Kala Brean to our team! Kala is CHN’s Director of Operations and Grant Management where she will have oversight of the CHN Navigator program as well as provide operations support and leadership within the network.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce the University of Toledo CommunityCare Clinics as the 2022 Free Clinic of the Year.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce James Dorado, MD of Grace Clinics of Ohio in Delaware as the 2022 Free Clinic Physician of the Year.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Katie Owens, PharmD, BCACP as the 2022 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year award winner for her work with St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati.

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Susan Deming, RN as the 2022 Free Clinic Nurse of the Year award winner for her work with the Lake County Free Clinic (LCFC).

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Amy Thompson as the 2022 Free Clinic Staff Member of the Year award winner.