After getting help from health care charity RAM, Tennessee man says he "could be a normal human again"
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Dave Burge and Sandra Tallent are among over 1,200 uninsured or underinsured patients who received free dental care, including dentures, at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) pop-up clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- RAM clinics, staffed by volunteers and funded primarily by individual donations, provide medical, dental, and vision care to Americans who cannot afford traditional healthcare, with about 60% of patients needing dental services.
- The organization, founded by Stan Brock and now operating nearly every weekend across the U.S., has treated over a million patients since its inception, offering millions of dollars in free care annually.
- Volunteers, including medical professionals who pay their own way, contribute time and resources to help patients regain health and dignity, exemplified by emotional moments when patients receive dentures.
- Despite some improvements in drug pricing, healthcare costs remain a major burden in the U.S., with millions losing insurance coverage under recent policies, making services like RAM’s clinics crucial for vulnerable populations.
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