Medical Outreach Ministries

Medical Outreach Ministries (MOM) is a non-profit free health clinic founded to serve those who cannot afford medical insurance for themselves or their families.  The mission of the clinic is to minister to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the medically underserved in the Montgomery area and to provide a “medical home” to those in need.  This is achieved by eliminating the primary obstacle to obtaining quality healthcare – cost.

Medical Outreach Ministries is the ONLY clinic in the area that provides ALL services – lab work, radiology services and medications – at NO charge to its patients.  In 2011, the clinic recorded over 6000 patient visits.

The Clinic provides routine primary care, preventive care, and some specialized care on a regular basis to its clients. Eight local volunteer physicians serve the clinic on a rotating basis and provide the bulk of the care. These include internists, a gastroenterologist, two gynecologists and a cardiologist, each of who maintains a regular schedule at the Clinic. Patients usually see the same doctor at each visit.   In addition, Medical Outreach employs a nurse practitioner who also sees patients.

Nationwide, about two million people lost their employer-sponsored insurance in 2008.  Those who are eligible for coverage find it difficult to afford – in 2009, the annual total cost for family coverage through an employer was $13,375, more than double the cost in 2000.  Recent figures show that 19 percent of Alabamians are uninsured.  Of those who live below the Federal Poverty Line, 44% are uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid or other public insurance.

More than eight in ten of the uninsured are in working families. Only 19% are from families that have no connection to the work force.

Although they may serve similar populations a Free Clinic differs from a Federally Qualified Health Clinic,
(FQHC).   Free Clinics, like Medical Outreach Ministries, provide services at no cost. They are defined as
“volunteer, safety‐net health care organizations that provide a range of services to economically
disadvantaged individuals who are predominantly uninsured.”    They are 501 (c) 3 tax exempt
organizations.   FQHCs have a sliding scale so patients contribute based on their income and what they
can afford.   Free Clinics cover their operating costs through donations; FQHCs bill for care provided to
insured patients to generate enough revenue to cross‐subsidize uninsured patients and cover operating
costs.    Medical Outreach is the only Free Clinic in our community. Lister Hill, Chisholm and the new
Jackson Hospital Clinic are all FQHCs.