The Macon Volunteer Clinic provides primary medical, dental, and eye care to actively employed, uninsured adult residents of Macon-Bibb and Twiggs County, Georgia, who live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Thanks to a generous network of caring volunteers and donors right here in the community, our patients receive our services at no cost to them. In Central Georgia, MVC is the only clinic providing free primary medical care to Macon-Bibb and Twiggs County residents who work and are uninsured. MVC is unique in that it offers a full range of services to include access to specialists who also provide care at no charge to patients.
- Patient Eligibility Guidelines
- Eligibility Screening
- Patient Responsibilities
- Prescription Medications
- Services
- Hours and Appointments
Patient Eligibility Guidelines
- Be actively employed.
- Live in Macon-Bibb or Twiggs County.
- Be between the ages of 18–64.
- Be uninsured (no Medicaid or Medicare, private or employer-provided health insurance, or VA benefits).
- Provide a valid social security number.
- Provide a current year tax return for you and your spouse.
- You must earn no more than 200% of the 2023 federal income guidelines – at or below the amount indicated for your family size in the chart below:
Macon Volunteer Clinic treats only working adults who are uninsured. Many people are exempt from the Affordable Care Act requirement to purchase health insurance because of extremely low incomes or other hardship cases.
Eligibility Screening
Patients must be screened for eligibility before receiving an appointment to see a physician. Screening appointments are available every week by calling 478-755-1110 x.121.
Please bring the following items to your screening:
- Picture ID
- Social Security card
- Letter from current employer
(Letter must state that you are actively employed and you do not participate in an insurance program with your employer.) - Most recent month’s payroll slips
- Two pieces of mail addressed to you to confirm Macon-Bibb or Twiggs county residency
- Current 1040 tax return
(If self-employed, a Profit and Loss Statement and a Schedule C is required.)
NOTE: if you do not have a copy of your current 1040 tax return, you can request a free tax return transcript at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.
If you have a spouse, bring these additional documents:
- Spouse’s current 1040 tax return, even if you file separately
- Spouse’s most recent month’s payroll slips
New Patient Forms Packet – For your convenience you may print these out and complete prior to visiting
Patient Responsibilities
- Patients must bring medications to every doctor visit. Diabetic patients are required to bring their glucometer to every doctor visit.
- Patients may request prescription renewals during doctor visits only. Patients are responsible for knowing when refills are due.
- Patients must provide 48 hours notice when canceling an appointment.
- Patients will be screened for eligibility every year. Experience proves that our most successful patients are those who are actively involved in their own healthcare.
- There are no MVC physicians on call during nights, weekends, or holidays. MVC is not private health insurance. Expenses for services provided at any facility, other than Macon Volunteer Clinic, are the patient’s responsibility.
In the event of a true medical emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Prescription Medications
MVC physicians make best efforts to prescribe generic, low-cost medications for you to purchase at your local pharmacy. When possible, prescription medications are provided to our patients free of charge through our Patient Prescription Assistance Program (PPAP). If you require a renewal of a prescription, you must schedule an appointment with a doctor. Bring all of your medications with you when you see the doctor. If you require a refill of your medication(s) from the pharmacy, please notify MVC at least 48 hours before you run out of medication(s). If you require a refill of PPAP medication(s), please notify the Patient Assistance Coordinator at least two weeks before you run out of your medication(s). PPAP medications are ordered directly from pharmaceutical companies and may take up to two weeks to receive. MVC does not refill prescriptions on a walk-in basis.
Services
- Primary Medical Care
- Dental Exams, X-rays, Cleanings, Restorative Services, and Extractions
- Eye Exams and Prescription Eyeglasses
- Non-narcotic Prescription Medication Assistance
- Cancer Screenings (such as Mammograms, PAP Smears and Colonoscopies)
- Laboratory Analyses
- X-rays
- Diagnostic Services
- Diabetic education and testing supplies (glucometers, testing strips, and lancets)
- Nutrition Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
- GYN Services
- Dermatology Services
- Outpatient Surgery through S.P.I.N. – Surgery for People In Need
Hours and Appointments
For active patients, appointments with a healthcare provider are available on:
- Monday 4–7 pm
- Tuesday 4–7 pm
- Wednesday 9 am–12:30 pm
- Thursday 9 am–12:30 pm
- Saturday appointments are available, every sixth Saturday.
Dental Clinic: Monday 1–4 pm; Friday 9 am – 12:30 pm
Only established patients who have seen a physician may schedule a dental or eye clinic appointment.
Office Hours
- Monday 12–5 pm
- Tuesday 12–5 pm
- Wednesday 9 am–12:30 pm, 2–4 pm
- Thursday 9 am–12:30 pm, 2–4 pm
- Friday 9 am–12:30 pm
Patient and Volunteer Stories
Winchester Blanks
Mr. Winchester Blanks came to MVC as a volunteer in 2013 knowing that he could help people who work hard every day, but who fall through the cracks. When asked why he volunteers, Mr. Blanks said, “It’s a good thing for the community, the patients here work to receive medical coverage.” With his signature smile […]
Horace Holmes Jr.
Horace Holmes Jr. is the son of migrant farm workers and grew up traveling across the nation wherever work could be found. Mr. Holmes is grateful for his parents and recalls, “We didn’t know we were poor because my mom and dad always worked, and they taught me the value of hard work.” That work […]
Dr. Chapin Henley’s Story
Shortly after I retired, I was exercising on a treadmill reading an article in Newsweek magazine. The title was ‘What have you done for someone today?’ It was about a volunteer clinic at Hilton Head for working uninsured people who fell through the cracks in our healthcare system. It dawned on me that there were […]