Arkansas free clinic draws more than 1,000 uninsured -- and criticism from former President Clinton

A free health clinic held this past Saturday in Little Rock, Ark. drew more than 1,000 uninsured people seeking care for a variety of health problems. But it also drew criticism from a former U.S. president concerned about the politics of the event.



More than 90% of those who attended the clinic at the Statehouse Convention Center were diagnosed with three or more life-threatening conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, according to the event's organizer, the Alexandria, Va.-based National Association of Free Clinics:

Seven people had such serious conditions that physicians decided they should be taken immediately by ambulances to local hospital emergency departments. Of those, five were admitted to hospitals for cardiac reasons, and two of them had had recent hearts attacks of which they were unaware.

The organizers report that 69% of the patients who attended the clinic do not have a regular medical provider, with many relying on hospital emergency rooms for needed care. About 9% of the patients had not seen a doctor in more than 10 years, while another 24% had not seen a doctor in more than five years.

The clinic was held on the same day that the Senate considered opening debate on health reform legislation, with Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas casting one of the critical votes to allow the debate to proceed.

Lincoln acknowledged the clinic's importance in a statement to the Associated Press. "This one-day clinic is a blessing," she said, "but it is not a sustainable way to deliver health care for the thousands of uninsured and underinsured Arkansans."

But Lincoln has said she will not support the final bill if it contains a public health insurance option. Advocates of such a measure -- which is supported by a majority of Americans -- argue it's necessary to provide competition to private insurance companies, many of which hold near-monopolies in their service areas. In Arkansas, for example, 75% of the health insurance market is controlled by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas.

The clinic in Little Rock came one week after a similar event in New Orleans, which is represented by Sen. Mary Landrieu -- another conservative Democrat whose vote was critical to opening debate on health reform.

This was no coincidence, of course: The idea to hold the free clinics in communities represented by lawmakers key to passing health care reform legislation was originally promoted by the MSNBC news show "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," whose viewers donated more than $1 million to the cause.

But Olbermann took criticism for his efforts from none other than former President Bill Clinton, who told a reporter from the blog Firedoglake that he wouldn't attend the Little Rock event because it had been "politicized" by the news anchor and was turning into a primary challenge of Lincoln, who is seeking a third term in 2010.

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter played a key role in organizing Saturday's clinic, helping secure a site and working with a group of 25 Arkansas health care providers, nonprofits and government agencies to recruit volunteers and publicize the event. There have been reports that Halter, who served in the Clinton administration, is thinking about mounting a primary challenge against Lincoln.

Halter has praised Olbermann's efforts to address people's unanswered need for affordable care in Arkansas, where a recent study found that 500,000 people -- 20% of the population -- are uninsured.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Arkansans who need health care to get the medical attention they sorely need, at least for a day," Halter said in a recent statement. "We are profoundly grateful to the National Association of Free Clinics and to Keith Olbermann, without whom this would not be happening."

(Photo of the Nov. 21 free clinic in Little Rock from the Arkansas Lt. Governor's website.)