Northwestern Medicine and the Family Health Partnership Clinic (FHPC) are expanding their partnership to address the growing number of uninsured adults in McHenry County, Illinois. As health insurance premiums increase and coverage options become more limited, both organizations aim to ensure that residents without insurance continue to have access to comprehensive medical care.
FHPC, based in Crystal Lake, operates as a nonprofit clinic serving uninsured adults on a sliding fee scale. The clinic does not accept insurance and will not turn away patients who cannot pay. Catie Schmit, president of Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, emphasized the importance of FHPC’s role: “FHPC is an indispensable part of the safety net in McHenry County. In a year when more residents are losing coverage or facing impossible insurance costs, their work has never been more crucial and Northwestern Medicine is proud to stand beside them.”
To respond to rising demand expected in 2026 due to increasing premiums and shrinking provider networks, FHPC has expanded its staff, operations, telehealth services, and transition-of-care processes. Suzanne Hoban, executive director of FHPC, credited support from partners like Northwestern Medicine for helping prepare for this increased need: “Northwestern Medicine has been a fabulous partner and truly a gold standard in what community collaboration looks like. This collaboration is built on what truly matters: ensuring that no one in our community goes without care simply because they can’t afford insurance.”
Hoban described Northwestern Medicine’s contributions as encompassing “time, talent and treasure,” including volunteer physicians, specialty care access, and funding for clinic operations such as nursing staff salaries and essential programs like the pharmacy and food pantry. In 2025 alone, the number of Northwestern Medicine physicians volunteering at FHPC more than doubled.
“Our physicians volunteer because they believe deeply in the clinic’s mission,” said Irfan Hafiz, MD, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine McHenry, Huntley and Woodstock hospitals. “They see firsthand how removing barriers like transportation, cost, and medication access can dramatically change a patient’s health trajectory. This is the kind of work that reminds us why we went into medicine.”
Patients needing advanced care beyond what FHPC provides receive streamlined access to specialty services through Northwestern Medicine along with financial assistance guidance. Hoban explained: “Northwestern Medicine works with us to fast-track financial assistance applications for FHPC patients needing specialty services, surgeries, and follow-up care. This is vital for our patients with needs outside the bounds of primary care. A lack of insurance doesn’t prohibit them from receiving lifesaving care.”
Unlike federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FHPC does not receive federal funding or accept Medicaid or private insurance; it relies solely on community donors and partners such as Northwestern Medicine for operational support.
The clinic offers primary care alongside behavioral health services; clinics specializing in endocrinology and orthopedics; optometry; physical therapy; dental care; an onsite pharmacy; and a food pantry addressing social determinants of health. Many patients arrive with serious chronic illnesses typically seen in hospital settings—conditions exacerbated by poverty or delayed treatment.
“Our patients are sick. They’re not coming in for annual physicals but arriving with complex medical needs that would be rare in a typical primary care office,” Hoban said. “Social determinants… contribute to this acuity and lead many patients to delay needed care for much too long. Our model removes every barrier we can.”
John Guido, MD—a radiologist who helped increase physician volunteering at FHPC—highlighted the benefits: “One of the strengths of FHPC is their comprehensive care model that gives patients access to labs, medications, behavioral health services and specialty clinics all under one roof… In this integrated environment, patients receive continuous care rather than episodic crisis-driven care… For physicians who volunteer their time… this model allows them to practice high-quality efficient medicine…”
As premiums rise—from $300 up to over $1,000 per month—more county residents have dropped coverage altogether. Despite these challenges—and anticipating an influx of newly uninsured adults—FHPC says it stands ready with continued support from Northwestern Medicine.
“This collaboration is a model for what community healthcare can look like,” said Schmit. “In a challenging healthcare environment together FHPC and Northwestern Medicine demonstrate that mission-driven partnerships can still thrive…”
Hoban added: “This is a systemic failure not an individual one… We want people to know we are here for them – before their health crisis becomes an emergency.”
For further information about FHPC or local resources visit https://hpclinic.org/.
Northwestern Medicine receives national recognition for its humanitarian awards honoring community service efforts supporting organizations like FHPC (https://news.nm.org/). The organization operates under parent company Northwestern Memorial HealthCare while focusing on patient-centered missions involving clinical research collaborations (https://news.nm.org/) as well as education initiatives designed around compassion (https://news.nm.org/). Howard B. Chrisman serves as president and CEO (https://news.nm.org/).
