About Ferncare Free Clinic
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This is an appointment only clinic. The only criteria: no health insurance of any kind and no primary care provider. All calls are returned within 24 hours. The Resource Page has a list of other free clinics in the area.
- Patient Criteria
- Patients must be between the ages of 19 through 64.
- Patients must provide a photo ID.
- Patients have NO insurance of any kind and no primary care provider.
- Patients are required to sign a Patient Contract as well as fill out a Health History and Information forms.
Services Offered
All of the medical staff volunteering for the clinic are licensed or certified as required by the State of Michigan.
Patients are seen by a practitioner (physician, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant).
All lab work is done at the clinic with the results available to the patients in 3 - 6 days.
The clinic dispenses generic medications. They assist patients with Prescription Assist Program for medications they do not carry and also survey local pharmacies for prescription costs.
A benefits counselor is available to help patients locate services they do not provide.
A social worker and nutritionist are all available upon request.
They offer a twelve session in-depth counseling program to patients.
They offer a diabetic mentoring and support group, open to both their patients and to the community.
They assist and enroll residents as well as patients in the Affordable Care Act Insurance Exchange and Healthy Michigan.
Services NOT Offered
They do not handle any sexually transmitted disease issues. This service is free at the Oakland County Health Department locations.
They do not provide any obstetric or gynecological counseling or care.
They do not provide any emergency care. They refer callers and patients to a clinic/hospital with that capability.
They do not provide any mental health care that is beyond what a family practice/general care practitioner is comfortable with.
They do not provide any imaging,i.e. x-ray, ultra sound, MRI, etc.
They do not provide any dental care.
They do not provide any care requiring a specialty (podiatry, neurology, etc.). These are referred out to specialists who have a specific agreement with FernCare regarding treatment of FernCare patients.
Pain medications will not be considered by the practitioners until the 3rd patient visit.
They do not provide surgery, including incisions and drainage.
2015/2016 Clinic Schedule and Hours
They are open the first and third Saturdays, 9am to noon, and the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for medical clinic AND the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 5:30 - 8:30 for counseling AND the 1st Saturday noon to 1pm.
Exceptions are when the clinic date falls on a major holiday or during community events that restrict access to the clinic's parking lot. Please note that clinic hours are subject to change, and they will be posted on this website as quickly as possible.
The counseling is only available to FernCare patients. The Diabetic Support is open to the community.
The medical clinic dates are arranged as first Saturday, second Thursday, third Saturday and fourth Thursday.
Mission Statement
The mission of FernCare Free Clinic is to enhance lives and champion thriving communities by providing no-cost health services and advocacy for medically uninsured people.
Since this is a sliding fee scale clinic, we have provided the Federal Poverty Guidelines below. Visit the Ferncare Free Clinic website listed above to see what the level is needed for free care.
Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2023
| Persons In Family Household | Poverty Guideline Salary per year |
|---|
| 1 | $14,580 |
| 2 | $19,720 |
| 3 | $24,860 |
| 4 | $30,000 |
| 5 | $35,140 |
| 6 | $40,280 |
| 7 | $45,420 |
| 8 | $50,560 |
For Households with more than 8 persons, add $4,480 for each additional person.
*Alaska and Hawaii have different rates for HUD federal poverty guidelines.
These numbers above represent 100% of the Federal Poverty Rate. In order to get reduced or free services from some clinics, they use a sliding fee scale based on your income.When they use a sliding fee scale, the 100% rate can be different than 100%. In those cases, using for example a 200% federal poverty level, you will only need double the 100% number listed above to 200%.
Health Care Center
I have been to this clinic.I have diabetes. I needed dental care. I needed an eye exam. I had women's health issues. I needed medical care. This clinic was completely free. The staff was friendly. I waited less than 1 hour I enjoyed going there, it did not feel like a free clinic, it was ran professionally.