STAMFORD – Americares has launched an initiative that will allow clinics across the United States to order specific quantities of medicines at a time when more Americans are losing access to health insurance and demand for care at free and charitable clinics is rising. An estimated 14 million people nationwide are expected to become uninsured in the coming years due to changes in federal policy and Medicaid spending.
Announced this week at the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Charitable Healthcare Symposium in Washington, D.C., Americares Right-size Ordering initiative will better support patients relying on safety net clinics for care.
According to a new NAFC report, more than 700,000 new patients were seen at free and charitable clinics across the United States in 2025. At the same time, 84% of NAFC’s member organizations reported an increase in patients inquiring about care last year.
Affordability of medication is also a barrier for many Americans. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, about four in 10, or 43%, of U.S. adults report that they have not taken their medication as prescribed in the past year due to costs.
Right-size Ordering was created in direct response to these trends and clinic feedback, underscoring Americares’ commitment to expanding access to care for low-income, uninsured or underinsured Americans. The initiative gives free and charitable clinics and community health centers more flexibility to access donated medications that previously required full-case orders and better meet patient need.
“With demand for care increasing and more patients relying on safety net clinics for care, now is the right time for Right-size Ordering,” said Americares Vice President of U.S. Programs Saqi Cho. “By expanding the types and quantities of medications clinics can order, we’ll help even more patients receive the medicine they need to stay healthy.”
Americares delivered enough medicine to U.S. clinics and community health centers last year to fill nearly 2.5 million prescriptions for patients in need.
With many states expected to be affected by drastic cuts to Medicaid, free and charitable clinics across the country are bracing for increased demand for care, including assistance filling prescriptions.
“As more families turn to us for medical care, it’s critical that we can respond to a wide range of patient needs,” said Manish Chaudhary, general and operations manager of Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada Ruffin Family Clinic. “Right-size Ordering will give us the opportunity to stock a wider variety of medicines for our patients. We’re grateful to Americares for listening to their clinic partners and helping us expand care.”
NAFC President and CEO Nicole Lamoureux, whose organization represents more than 1,400 clinics nationwide, has seen a greater demand for affordable medication.
“Free and charitable clinics continue to see growing demand as more people struggle to access affordable health care and medications,” Lamourex said. “Americares new Right-size Ordering initiative is an innovative solution that helps clinics make the most of donated medicines while giving them greater flexibility to meet the unique needs of their patients.”
