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Frequently Asked Questions

VIM is a medical clinic that helps people who do not have health insurance. Our patients do not make enough money to pay for healthcare on their own.

Our patients include those who work as landscapers, hairdressers, dog groomers, artists, construction workers, ranchers, self-employed entrepreneurs, kitchen workers, river rafting guides, housekeepers, home health care workers, part-time employees, and students – just to name a few.

Yes.

You may qualify if you:
  • Are between the ages of 19 – 64.
  • Do not have medical or health insurance.
  • Have some income, but are still “low-income.” Your pay can be from part-time, full-time or seasonal jobs. It can also be from a student loan or unemployment.
 • Live or work in Deschutes, Jefferson, or Crook counties.

To receive care at VIM, your income must be below 250% of the Federal Poverty Line. The Federal Poverty Line is determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Click here to see the guidelines we use.

Call us. Dial (541) 330-9001 and press “5”. Leave a message. We will call you back and ask a few questions. If it sounds like you may qualify for our care, we will make an appointment to go over the paperwork. This appointment is called an “eligibility screening.”

At VIM we work with just a certain group of people. These are people that don’t get medical care because they can’t afford to pay for it. We help as many people as we can, but we can’t help everyone. If you don’t qualify for VIM, we will help refer you to someone who can care for you. Click here to see a list of other medical resources.

At VIM, we qualify all the adults who live in your home for care, not just you. Any person in your home, age 19 – 64, who meets our eligibility requirements may also receive care at VIM.

With few exceptions, we do not care for children 19 and under. Most likely they are eligible for care through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Click here for information on OHP.

No. If you are 65 or older, you may qualify for Medicare. Click here for Medicare information.

VIM can help you get well, and stay well until you are able to find insurance on your own. We are a “medical home”. This means we help you care for your health in many ways. We keep your medical records and look out for you. We can provide medical care, prescription medications, and mental health care. We help you understand how to take better care of yourself. Please click here to see a list of services we provide.

First, you need to call VIM to see if you qualify for care (541) 330-9001. You will then complete an eligibility screening. After that, we will set up your first appointment.
Yes, you need an appointment to see a doctor. VIM is not an emergency clinic. We do not take people who just walk-in. We only care for patients once they are done with their eligibility screening. Please don’t wait until you are sick to call us. Do your eligibility screening now. Then when you need to see a doctor, we will be able to help you.

If you have a medical condition that can’t wait, please go to urgent care or the emergency room. Click here for a list of other places that might be able to help you.

Active and retired medical and lay-person volunteers. More than 300 of them. They are people who live and work in our community who care for our patients without being paid. Most of them see patients in our clinic. Others are medical partners who care for our patients in their own offices when we ask them to.
No, there is no charge for basic care received in the clinic. But we do request a donation for the services provided. Most of our patients leave $10 – $20 per visit when they can. This helps to fund a patient benevolence fund when there is a medical expense that can’t be donated and also helps to pay the clinic’s utility bills, medical supplies, and other items.
If we can get something for free, you will not have to pay for it. For those things that are not donated, you may have to pay a small fee. Fees may be charged for some medical tests, prescription medications, or dental materials. We will talk with you about any of these costs ahead of time. If there is a cost, it will most likely be at a wholesale price.
If you are already a VIM patient we will do our best to help you. We may have to send you to a local doctor that doesn’t volunteer in the VIM clinic. These doctors have agreed to help VIM patients anyway. In some cases, you will have to pay for part of the services you receive. If so, they will work with you to figure out a payment plan.

No. We do not provide pain medication, narcotics or medical marijuana. We also do not give prescriptions for these drugs. Click here to see a list of services we provide.

Yes. We have dentists and counselors that volunteer to see VIM patients.

Yes, if you meet the other requirements. You may not need to file taxes if you make too little money. But, there are a number of reasons you may want to file them anyway, especially since you will need them to get tax benefits from the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”).

Filing your taxes can be an easy process – and free – through a volunteer program here in Deschutes County. Call (541) 389-6507 (English), or (541) 382-4366 (Spanish) for assistance. Click here for more information.

Yes! There are 90 VIM clinics in 27 states. You can find a list of VIM clinics by clicking here.

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About

Hours of Operations

  • Monday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

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Copyright © 2022 Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades. All rights reserved.
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Hours of Operations

  • Monday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Our Mission:

To improve the health and wellness of the medically uninsured or critically underserved through the engagement of professionals, community partners, and dedicated volunteers.

Nuestra Misión:

Para mejorar la salud y el bienestar de las personas que no tienen Seguro medico o que están críticamente desatendidas a través de la participación de profesionales, socios comunitarios y voluntarios dedicados.

Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Federal Tax Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. VIM’s tax ID number is 93-1327847.
To view our most recent IRS Form 990, please search for us under EIN: 93-1327847 on the IRS Exempt Organization Search.

Copyright © 2022 Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades. All rights reserved.

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