Care Free Medical

What Care Free Medical does

Care Free Medical, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, single-site safety-net clinic founded in 2004 by Dr. Barry Saltman and Nurse Practitioner Suzanne Saltman in Lansing, Michigan, after the founders observed unmet demand from uninsured residents during 28 years of prior practice in Mason, Michigan. The organization provides medical, dental, optometry, and behavioral health services to underinsured and uninsured adults and children in Metro Lansing, with the Dental and Optometry clinics currently furloughed and only the Medical clinic actively operating. Care Free operates an integrated care model that combines primary care with behavioral health on-site, supported by a Pharmacy Assist program that has secured more than $20 million in prescriptions directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers for patients unable to afford medications since 2004.

The business model is a hybrid of charitable funding and third-party reimbursement. Revenue streams include private donations, corporate giving, and grants (cash, check, credit card, ACH, PayPal), supplemented by insurance reimbursement from Medicaid, Medicare, and Ingham Health Plan for office visits. A sliding fee discount structure offers reduced or fully waived fees for patients at 200% or less and 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level, respectively, with payment plans available; the clinic does not turn patients away due to inability to pay. Operations run on minimal paid staff and a large volunteer base across medical, dental, optometry, and clerical functions.

The clinic serves the Metro Lansing catchment from its headquarters at 1115 S. Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48912, with more than 12,000 annual medical office visits and over 100,000 cumulative visits to 8,500+ unique patients since founding. Strategic partnerships with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, McLaren Greater Lansing, Sparrow Hospital, AF Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Plante Moran, Dart Bank, and ITC Holdings underpin clinical capacity, medical education pipelines, and fundraising. Leadership is anchored by CEO Farhan Bhatti, M.D., and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors with fiduciary and operational oversight; there is no parent company, private equity, or venture capital involvement.

Name

Care Free Medical

Legal name

Care Free Medical, Inc.

Website

https://carefreemedical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Care Free Medical is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit safety-net clinic in Lansing, Michigan, founded in 2004 to deliver integrated medical, dental, optometry, and behavioral health care to uninsured and underinsured adults and children across Metro Lansing, funded by donations, grants, and insurance reimbursement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Primary Care Practices (HLAFAGAA), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO), Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics (HLAFABAC)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Primary medical care
• Dental care services
• Pharmacy assistance program
• Behavioral health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Care Free accepts individuals regardless of insurance status and receives reimbursement for office visits from Medicaid, Medicare, and other insurance providers.
2. Private Donations and Grants: The clinic is funded through private donations, corporate giving, and grants from the community. Donations include cash, check, credit card, automatic bank withdrawals, and PayPal.
3. Sliding Fee Discounts and Payment Plans: Care Free offers sliding fee discounts for patients at 200% or less of Federal Poverty Level, with full discounts for those at 100% or less of FPL. Payment plans are available for patients unable to pay balances.
4. Pharmacy Assist Program: The Pharmacy Assist program has obtained more than $20 million in prescriptions for patients since the organization's creation in 2004 by helping patients apply for medications directly from pharmaceutical companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Care Free Medical is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clinic delivering integrated medical, dental, optometry, and behavioral health care to underinsured and uninsured adults and children in the Metro Lansing area. The clinic operates with minimal paid staff and maximum volunteer power, offers a sliding fee discount program based on the Federal Poverty Level, and runs a Pharmacy Assist program that has obtained more than $20 million in prescriptions since 2004. Patients are accepted regardless of insurance status, with Medicaid, Medicare, and other insurance reimbursements supplementing donations and grants.

Product overview

Care Free Medical operates as a single-location nonprofit healthcare clinic offering integrated medical, dental, optometry, and behavioral health services to underinsured and uninsured adults and children in the Metro Lansing community. The organization provides care through an innovative integrated healthcare model combining primary care with behavioral health, supported by a Pharmacy Assist program that helps patients obtain prescriptions at no cost. Dental and Optometry clinics are currently furloughed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Clinic Primary care clinic providing acute and chronic disease management, well child care, behavioral health integration, vaccinations, STD testing, and referrals to medical specialists for underserved adults and children in Metro Lansing.
• Dental Clinic Dental clinic providing routine hygiene care (cleanings and x-rays), fillings, and extractions for underserved or uninsured patients. Currently furloughed until further notice.
• Optometry Clinic Vision care clinic providing optometry services to help patients achieve good vision. Currently furloughed until further notice.
• Pharmacy Assist Program Prescription assistance program that helps uninsured and underinsured patients access medications directly from pharmaceutical companies. Has obtained more than $20 million in prescriptions for patients since 2004.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 visits to over 8,500 adults and children since founding in 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AF GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2024AF Group serves as a host and sponsor for Care Free Medical events, including the Health Care Networking Fundraiser held at the AF Group historical building. AF Group employees serve on the Board of Directors (Akeenya Woods, Underwriting Technician).
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2024Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan co-hosted the Health Care Networking Fundraiser with AF Group on April 16, 2024, providing a strolling lunch for attendees.
• Michigan State University (MSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan State University College of Human Medicine is a key supporter of Care Free Medical. Dr. Bhatti, the CEO, graduated from MSU College of Human Medicine. MSU provides medical education support through McLaren Greater Lansing where Dr. Bhatti serves as Director of Medical Education.
• McLaren Greater LansingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcLaren Greater Lansing provides an affiliation for medical education. Dr. Anatol Tolchinsky serves as Director of Medical Education at McLaren Greater Lansing and is Board Chair of Care Free Medical.
• Sparrow HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Bhatti completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Sparrow Hospital. Danielle Hill, a board member, serves at UMH-Sparrow. The organization has historical ties to Sparrow Hospital for physician training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics: National membership organization supporting free and charitable clinics through advocacy, training, and resources — a relevant ecosystem peer for funding, policy, and operational benchmarking for Care Free's clinic model.
• Michigan Primary Care Association: Statewide association representing Michigan's Federally Qualified Health Centers and safety-net providers — a relevant ecosystem peer for benchmarking, policy advocacy, and grant funding pathways relevant to Care Free's mission.

Direct peers

• Family Health Center: Federally Qualified Health Center in Kalamazoo, MI delivering integrated primary, dental, behavioral, and pharmacy care with sliding-fee scales to underserved populations — comparable in service breadth and target demographic within Michigan.
• Cherry Health: Michigan-based Federally Qualified Health Center operating multiple clinic sites that deliver integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services on a sliding-fee basis to uninsured and underinsured patients — the closest analog in scale and service mix to Care Free Medical within Michigan.
• Grace Health: Federally Qualified Health Center in Battle Creek, MI providing primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services with sliding-fee discounts to underserved populations — directly comparable in mission, integrated service model, and Michigan footprint.
• Cass Clinic: Free clinic in Detroit, MI providing primary care, mental health, and prescription assistance to uninsured adults, operated by volunteer physicians and supported by donations — comparable mission, funding model, and patient population to Care Free Medical.
• Hope Clinic: Free clinic in Ypsilanti, MI providing free medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care to uninsured and underinsured residents of greater Washtenaw County using a volunteer-driven nonprofit model — closely matches Care Free's volunteer-powered, donation-funded operating approach.

Regional players

• HealthNet: Indianapolis-based nonprofit community health network operating multiple clinics that serve uninsured and underinsured populations with integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health on a sliding-fee basis — a strong analog in operating model outside Michigan.

Broad incumbents

• Trinity Health Michigan: Large regional health system operating multiple community-based clinics and safety-net programs across Michigan; comparable as a broader incumbent providing integrated outpatient care to underserved populations, though at much greater scale.
• Volunteers in Medicine: National nonprofit that develops and supports free clinics staffed by volunteers serving uninsured residents across the U.S.; provides the macro context and best-practice network relevant to Care Free's volunteer-powered operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/care-free-medical-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Care Free Medical