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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois Association of Free & Charitable 
3Clinics improves access to quality healthcare for low-income 
4individuals who are uninsured or underinsured by strengthening 
5free and charitable clinics, fostering partnerships, educating 
6the public, and advocating for health policy; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Free and charitable clinics have a mission to 
8serve the uninsured and underinsured by providing a range of 
9healthcare services including medical, dental, pharmaceutical, 
10and mental and behavioral health; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Free and charitable clinics provide community 
12health education classes on a wide range of topics including 
13diabetes, hypertension, diet, exercise, home health, and 
14medicine administration; and
 
15    WHEREAS, It is estimated that 896,000 Illinois residents 
16and 32.3 million Americans were uninsured in 2016; Illinois has 
17the 8th highest uninsured population in the country, with 10.6% 
18of people ages 18-64 in the state uninsured; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, The Illinois Association of Free and Charitable 
20Clinics operates over 40 free and charitable clinics across 
21Illinois located in both rural and urban areas of the state, 
 
 
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1providing over 83,000 visits to approximately 68,000 patients 
2annually; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare 
4professionals provide more than 150,000 hours of volunteer 
5medical care every year in Illinois; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Free and charitable clinics in Illinois are truly 
7an invaluable resource for Illinois residents who are without 
8insurance or are underinsured; these clinics provide access to 
9life-saving medical care that would otherwise be unavailable or 
10more costly; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare August of 
132018 as "Free and Charitable Clinic Month" in the State of 
14Illinois in order to create community awareness of the mission 
15and availability of free and charitable clinics across the 
16state so that residents who are without insurance or are 
17underinsured can receive access to vital medical care; and be 
18it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That we express our gratitude and admiration for 
20the important work the many free and charitable clinics, 
21volunteer doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals 
22do for our great citizens throughout the State of Illinois; and 
 
 
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1be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
3presented to the Illinois Association of Free & Charitable 
4Clinics as a symbol of our respect and esteem.