Remote Area Medical (RAM) continues to provide essential free dental, vision, and medical services to underserved populations, yet the organization faces significant challenges due to bureaucratic hurdles. While patient demand for these services remains high, state-level licensing regulations often prevent qualified out-of-state medical professionals from volunteering their time. This “red tape” limits the capacity of the clinics, resulting in longer wait times and fewer patients treated. As the need for accessible healthcare grows, advocates are calling for legislative reforms to streamline volunteer requirements and expand care delivery across state lines.
- Remote Area Medical (RAM) operates mobile clinics that offer free healthcare to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.
- High patient turnout at recent clinics highlights a persistent and growing demand for basic medical, dental, and vision services.
- Operations are frequently slowed by restrictive state licensing laws that prohibit out-of-state healthcare providers from practicing charitably.
- The inability to utilize out-of-state volunteers limits the number of practitioners available to treat patients during short-term clinic events.
- Organizational leaders and advocates are seeking legislative changes to allow for easier cross-state volunteer verification to improve healthcare access.
Gemini said 60 Minutes is an American television news magazine that has been a staple of CBS News since its debut in 1968. Created by Don Hewitt, the program is renowned for its hard-hitting investigative journalism, high-profile interviews, and in-depth feature stories that have earned it a reputation as the gold standard of broadcast news for over half a century.
Official website: https://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes//
Original video here.
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How many of these patients vote against healthcare for all???!!!!
Why is the RAM website offline?
Too experience to see dentist
Childcare & healthcare should be each states problem. The federal government’s focus should be on defense & securing the border. MAGA!!!
That’s why I’m calling USA country of extreme capitalism,we’re business and money first place.
Why change rules it’s not problem for rich peoples.In USA most important rich peoples,which ones financing politicians,others doesn’t have any value for low makers and politicians.
Brock
This broke my heart. We live in the biggest economy in the world, and yet we can not take care of our people.
Other countries provide care for their people but not the riches country in the world.
But we can spend over a trillion dollars for defense.
This segment was filmed in Knoxville, Tennessee
I remember seeing the 2008 story and being so touched by it. It’s wonderful to see RAM still in operation. Hopefully the legislation changes so more providers can volunteer, and hopefully healthcare becomes more accessible overall for people in this country. ❤
this is the US everyone. the so called "the greatest country in the world" its people cant have healthcare because healthcare lobby is too strong
Keep voting for no universal healthcare. 🫤
Keep pretending there is a way for everyone to afford insurance.
Sad to see a country that spends billions on medical care still has people without care. 😢
We looked up the website to donate to them, but it's down right now for some reason. 😕
That red tape is likely by design, probably politically backed by insurance companies.
I met Stan Brock and was fortunate to speak alone with him
What a fantastic human being. I am so proud to have met him❤ RIP Stan Brock
Lovely charity filling a great need, but it makes me furious that Americans need this! Disgustingly bloated military budget—in the trillions!—yet Americans need charity to get their basic health care needs met. Americans, we need to rise up and change this.
Facts of the reality, that’s a sad and pathetic story that we live in! Funding is siphon by the corrupt politicians and corporations 💭
So RAM got a huge injection of donations since your show in 2008? Could you do a show every year? Look at all the help they are getting. Maybe more dentists and Visioncare people will volunteer. Maybe more rich people will donate funds. Do more shows that cover different aspects of RAM.
I do not have dental or vision coverage either, but I can pay for my care. Not tons of people have insurance that covers vision or dental without hefty co-pays.
Unless you have a government job.
Going to the dentist and getting glasses are still hard for me, but I can figure it out. Some just do not have the resources for that.
God bless!
If the USA gets the people who do not really qualify for Medicaid, maybe more people can get the benefits who really have no other resources
I watched this piece and have to ask, why didn’t 60 minutes explain why and who is responsible for people losing or not being able to afford health care? Nice whitewash 60 minutes!
What people need to do if they want to be volunteer ?
its CHWISTMWAS TWIIIIMMEE 🙂
America First!
Trump needs to sign executive action on this. Get the CEO on the line with trump. I know he will do it if you ask.
I known why this country does not have health care for its citizens, but i can't understand why. 😢
Been watching 60 minutes for over 50 years…Scott Pelly has done some great human interest stories,,this one is one of his best!
I volunteered with RAM last year. Life changing experience.
US I think is the only place where everything and everyone needs lengthy application and registration even volunteer work. It’s sad.
We are the richest country in the world. Shameful that our people can't get Healthcare without going bankrupt! God bless RAM.
I wish there was one near me I lost my healthcare last May and Im disabled and a senior 😢 Please bring one near Sacramento in California.
This is absolutely gut wrenching to learn about….. but there is still hope for people
America is such a terrible country for charging so much for health care.
And yet, many of them when they return home, will continue to vote against their own interests.
I'm so proud and humbled to be a part of this amazing clinic ❤️🥹
Our first year at the clinic with our mammogram van, our last patient was late getting to us but we didn't pack up and leave. We waited patiently. She came to us with a mouth full of gauze having had several teeth extracted. She was so apologetic. We assured her that it was fine! Turned out she was diagnosed with category 2 breast cancer. HIPPA prohibited us from following her journey of course, but her diagnosis would have been treatable…So we just prayed that she was able to receive the follow up and after care that she needed and deserved. 🩷🩷🩷💪🏻🫶🏻
Bless all of the people involved in the RAM Clinic!
If I was a young, single woman, I would volunteer at as many of these pop up clinics as I could, and travel to wherever I was needed (just food for thought for anyone who's able to do that) I don't think you would regret it! ☺️❤️❤️❤️
SHAME on our so-called elected 'leaders' for doing NOTHING for the people – while THEY go to Mayo Clinic, Walter Reed and have the best doctors!!!!! God sees all of this – while they war around the globe. I have seen where the money goes in the Blue Cross system.
ALL OF OUR MEDICAL DENTAL AND VISION CARE COULD BE COVERED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS, IF THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIND UNNECESSARY WARS, TAX BREAKS FOR BILLIONAIRES, AND CORPORATE WELFARE. PERIOD.
And this has ALWAYS been true under Democrats and Republicans!
👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🎊
Where do we go to donate?
People need vision and dental care. They are a part of the body. Never understood why they’re carved out of medical benefits as if they’re separate entities outside of the body.