From the JONAH Mental Health Task Force
This week, we’ll be sharing about local Free Clinics and the requirements and resources they offer! To preface, the intern that wrote this is currently interning at both JONAH and Open Door Clinic in Chippewa Falls, so she has a decent amount of knowledge and access to information on this topic!
Here in Eau Claire, we have two fairly local clinics. One is the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic here in EC on Oak Ridge Drive, and the second is Open Door Clinic in Chippewa Falls.
- Both offer comprehensive care to those who fall under the 200%-250% federal poverty line which is $31,000-$39,900 annually for an individual.
- Must be between 18 and 64 years old
- Both clinics are available to people who cannot afford their insurance copays/expenses, do not have health insurance, or are going through financial hardship.
***Regardless of if you have affordable health insurance or not, if you are struggling in any area, affording utilities, gas, behind on rent, can’t afford a dental appointment, or just need to know what resources are available in the community for some support? I would highly recommend going to the clinics to ask! They are here for their community and would love to point you in the right direction.***
Differences:
Eau Claire Clinic
- The Eau Claire Clinic is considerably larger than Open Door clinic
- They are able to offer a wider range of in-house services such as dental appointments instead of referring you out to somewhere else
- Open more often: Every Tuesday 4pm-8pm (walk-in registration ends at 6pm), and every 1st & 3rd Thursday from 9am-1pm (walk-in registration ends at 10am)
- Have medication refill capacity (needs 24 hour notice)
- Case Management Availability/Assistance
- Have more specific requirements for eligibility because of their size. (Requirements Attached)
Open Door Clinic
- Although smaller, Open Door has extensive resources and referral ability
- They do have a small formulary (in house small pharmacy) that covers most medication needs, and you can usually leave the same day with the meds you need.
- If not, they can script them out for you to pick up at no cost to you.
- Open only on Tuesday from 5pm-7:30pm (walk-in availability ends at 6:30pm)
- Since Open Door is located in the same Church that the local Food Pantry uses, they have access to getting small emergency bags of food for anyone who walks in with that need.
- Open Door does still have requirements for eligibility (Requirements Attached)
For more information please see the links below! Don’t forget to check out the attached files to see requirements for both clinics!
Open Door Clinic: https://www.chippewaopendoor.org/
Eau Claire Clinic: https://cvfreeclinic.org/