WHAT IS CLINICA AMISTAD?

Clinica Amsitad is Tucson’s only completely free health clinic. Its mission is to provide free integrative healthcare to the poor and uninsured in the Tucson region.

Clinica Amistad is a fully licensed and insured health clinic and is registered with the State of Arizona as a qualifying charitable organization. Clinica Amistad receives no government funding but relies on the generosity and kindness of the local community.

WHY DOES CLINICA AMISTAD EXIST?

In this age of Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Arizona’s AHCCCS program, it may be surprising that an organization like Clinica Amistad is still needed. The truth is that many living and working in our community have no access to healthcare coverage and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. Clinica Amistad serves this patient population. You probably know someone in this situation.

HOW DOES CLINICA AMISTAD FUNCTION?

For twelve years, Clinica Amistad has fulfilled its mission to provide free healthcare services to the uninsured of Tucson. Clinica’s volunteer, professional healthcare staff (17 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses), and student and community volunteers (65 pre-med and public health students, and interpreters) collectively strives for a healthy community.  Clinica Amistad operates in the WIC building at S 10th Ave and 27th St on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5pm to 10pm to accommodate up to 2000 patient visits each year.

HOW DOES CLINICA AMISTAD SERVE THE TUCSON COMMUNITY?

Most of Clinica Amistad’s patients need primary medical care, suffering from either hypertension or diabetes. These conditions, if left untreated, often result in emergency room visits. Visits, if they were to occur, that would go unreimbursed and further stress an already overburdened local healthcare system. By intervening in such cases, Clinica Amistad provides a humanitarian benefit to its patients and their families and an economic benefit for the entire Tucson community by sparing emergency medical services for all of us. Clinica Amistad also provides social services, counseling, acupuncture, optometry, energy therapy, and health education.

HOW ARE DONATIONS TO CLINICA AMISTAD USED?

Ninety-two percent of Clinica Amistad’s operating budget goes directly into patient services. Only 8% is needed for administrative costs. Clinica Amistad’s board of directors fully funds the clinic’s administrative costs so that every dollar given by its donors flows to the care of its patients. Most of Clinica Amistad’s operational costs are for services offered outside of the clinic and include fees for laboratory tests, imaging services, specialists, and outpatient surgical facilities. Clinica Amistad pays pennies on the dollar for these services thanks to the generosity of local providers. Clinica Amistad strives to efficiently apply every dollar provided by its donors.

WHAT ARE THE TAX ADVANTAGES OF A DONATION TO CLINICA AMISTAD?

Clinica Amistad is a project of Amistad y Salud, a federally registered 501(c)(3) organization. All donations to Clinica Amistad are federally tax deductible up to IRS limits. Even better, Amistad y Salud is registered with the State of Arizona as a qualifying charitable organization. Donations to Clinica Amistad are eligible for an Arizona State Income Tax credit up to $200 for single filers and $400 for joint filers. This tax credit is available to Arizona income tax payers even if he or she does not itemize deductions on the federal return. This tax credit is separate from the popular credits for donations to public schools and private school tuition organizations.