A volunteer-run medical lifeline for older New Port Richey residents is suddenly on borrowed time. The Free Senior Health Clinic at the Claude Pepper Senior Center has been given 30 days to clear out of a city-owned building, a move patients and staff say could upend care for hundreds of uninsured seniors. The clinic, powered largely by volunteer physicians and nurses, handles routine primary care and chronic-disease management for older residents who say they have nowhere else to go. Leaders warn that losing the site could push some patients into costly emergency rooms or leave them without any regular provider at all.
Two weeks ago, the City of New Port Richey sent the clinic a notice giving it 30 days to vacate unless occupancy issues are resolved, as reported by Tampa Bay 28. City Manager Debbie Manns wrote that the organization currently operating the clinic does not have a valid lease agreement with the city and lacks sufficient liability insurance to cover the city's risk. Clinic leaders told the station they hope to settle the paperwork and stay put if they can hammer out a new arrangement with the city.
The clinic operates out of the Claude Pepper Senior Center at 6640 Van Buren Street and, according to local reporting, serves more than 1,200 active patients who depend on free primary care and specialty referrals. The Pasco Herald reported the site's patient load and volunteer-driven model. Earlier coverage in the Laker/Lutz News has also highlighted longstanding volunteer involvement and listed the center's address.
Patients Fear Losing Care
“Probably end up in an emergency room having a heart attack if it wasn’t for the clinic,” patient Grace Whitfield told Tampa Bay 28, summing up the anxiety many regulars say they are feeling. Clinic director Gisela Dalnoky said worried patients have been calling daily and that staff are scrambling behind the scenes to find a fix. Volunteer physician Dr. Carlos Zubillaga told the station he trusts the misunderstanding will be cleared up because “there are people of goodwill involved.”
Legal Questions And Next Steps
The city's stated concerns center on the lack of a formal lease and adequate liability coverage, and the notice gives the clinic a firm timeline to sort those issues out. Clinic leaders say they are prepared to meet leasing and insurance requirements but caution that lining up a new site or policy could take weeks, not days. Local advocates argue elected officials and health partners will need to move quickly if they want to prevent any interruptions in care for the seniors who rely on the clinic.
Neighbors and volunteers say they'll be watching closely as the deadline approaches, while clinic staff urge patients to stay calm as they negotiate with city officials. This story is still unfolding, and updates are expected as city leaders and clinic organizers lay out their next steps.
