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In Pain, Out of Work and Can't Pay the Bills
A Resource Directory for People With CRPS

Finding A Free Clinic

If you need to see a doctor but cannot afford one, a free or low-cost clinic may be able to help you. Keep in mind that all free clinics have eligibility rules for patients: typically free clinics see only patients who have low income and who do not have insurance for the treatment needed. Depending upon their eligibility rules, not all clinics will be able to treat you. However, there may be some flexibility with the eligibility rules, so even if you think you do not qualify it may still be worth calling the clinic to ask about your situation. Sometimes the care at a free clinic is not completely free; there may be a small charge, depending upon any income you have. In addition, free clinics are not always able to provide care for complicated conditions like CRPS, but they still may be of at least some assistance.

You may be able to find a free clinic through your local phone books or on the Internet. You may need to try more than one website before you find a clinic to help you as not all the websites have complete lists.

You can also contact charities in your area (such as The Salvation Army or Catholic Charities) to see if they offer any health care services.

If caregivers at the free clinic need a copy of the RSDSA Clinical Treatment Guidelines (published in June 2006), you can download it here or contact the RSDSA office at 203.877.3790 to have a copy sent to the clinic.

Take Care Recovery Plan

The Take Care Recovery Plan is an offer of free, limited healthcare and diagnostic testing services at Take Care Clinics throughout the remainder of 2009 for qualified individuals. Click here for details.

If your state does not have its own website (see list below), these websites have information about free clinics across the country:

• The National Association of Free Clinics, a non-profit organization, has a list of state and regional associations of free clinics on its website. Find your state or region's association, and contact that organization for a list of clinics near you.

• RxAssist (an information center created by Volunteers in Health Care that helps people find out how to get medications) also has a list of state and regional associations of free clinics on its website. Find your state or region's association, and contact that organization for a list of clinics near you.

• Medkind Corporation (producers of software for clinics) has a list of many free clinics on its website. Choose the state that you want, and then click "Search" to get a list of clinics in that state.

• The Remote Area Medical® (RAM) Volunteer Corps
This not-for-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps is dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world. For more information and a schedule of expeditions, please click here.

• Find Affordable Health Care by US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA-supported health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas.

• Searching for a pain specialist or pain clinic in your area?
The Dannemiller Foundation has compiled for your use a list of hundreds of pain specialists and pain clinics from all over the globe.

Introduction
Assistive Devices
Caregiver Resources
Clinical Trials
Disability Resources
Government Assistance Programs
Health Services/Insurance
Independent Living Centers
Legal Aid
Living Expenses
Patient Assistance Programs
Service, Faith-based, and Private Organizations
Transportation
Veterans
Workers Compensation

Appendices:
Federal Poverty Guidelines
Finding Free Clinics

Updated April 20, 2009