AmeriCares this week pledged to expand its medical assistance across the United States at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. AmeriCares U.S. Medical Assistance Program, announced by President & CEO Curt Welling, is a two-year commitment to improve community health by donating medicines and medical supplies to health care organizations serving the uninsured and underinsured throughout the country. By increasing the resources of nonprofit medical centers, AmeriCares will enable more patients to receive high-quality, low-cost treatment. Providing patients with access to health care helps them control and manage their chronic conditions while offering an alternative to using over-burdened emergency rooms for primary care.
An estimated 46 million Americans lack health insurance. The vast majority are working families that do not earn enough to afford health insurance or pay for out-of-pocket for medical care. The uninsured crisis is getting worse as more Americans lose their jobs and their health insurance.
AmeriCares donations provide safety net health care facilities with medicines, diagnostic and treatment supplies so they can treat more uninsured and underinsured patients within their limited budgets. Last fiscal year, AmeriCares U. S. Medical Assistance Program supported 160 health care organizations in 30 states with over $20 million worth of essential medicines and supplies. The increased demand for the services at safety net clinics means that AmeriCares medical assistance is needed now more than ever.
With its CGI Commitment, AmeriCares aims to: