Brent Hafele with the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic says he's concerned about reform proposals in Washington right now, and he's trying to fight the perception that communities won't need free clinics after reform happens.

The clinic is a non-partisan organization, so it's not advocating for a universal coverage system or a private payer-based system.

"It's a very public issue right now," Hafele said. "We're addressing it, and we need the community support to continue."

Hafele says the problem is the holes he sees in the proposals.

"We don't know exactly how it's going to turn out, but when you look at the proposals that are out there, you are able to see certain things."

He says none of them address making health care less expensive. He also says they don't make it so that everyone in America actually gets health care.

"So when you look at that type of situation, there are some big needs for free clinics."

Right now the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic operates on donations, and the help of nearly 300 volunteers.

"There is a direct relationship between the economy and the increase in patients that we've had," Hafele said.

He says even though you may not see the effects of reform until 2019, now is the time for him to speak out.

"Despite the discussion in Washington, there are people today that need help."

Hafele says there's a perfect health storm already brewing because of rising costs, the fact that not everyone has access to health care, and an unhealthy lifestyle that many people live.

He says he and the clinic manager were recently at a seminar in California that dealt with the role of free clinics in the future.

Hafele and the clinic manager will discuss the impact of health care reform on free clinics on Thursday at Infinitea Teahouse in Eau Claire from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.