Access to healthcare remains a significant barrier for many Americans, and chiropractic care is no exception. The Called Co., a newly formed nonprofit organization, is addressing this gap by bringing bodywork directly into communities and letting patients decide what they can afford to pay. The mission is personal for its founder, a veteran who remembers being offered medication instead of meaningful care and who believes that people deserve support that honors their dignity and their real life circumstances.
The organization’s model is straightforward: they offer chiropractic and soft tissue care using a sliding scale payment system where recipients pay whatever they feel is fair based on their financial circumstances. For some, that might mean the full typical cost of a session. For others facing financial hardship, it could mean paying little to nothing at all.
Despite being in its early stages, the nonprofit has already begun demonstrating the viability of its approach. Through a pay-what-you-want community event, the organization successfully raised funds while simultaneously providing care to people dealing with pain who might otherwise have gone without treatment.
Meeting People Where They Are
Rather than waiting for patients to come to a traditional clinic setting, The Called Co. takes its services directly into neighborhoods. The organization provides care at community events and hosts special outreach days, removing both the financial and logistical barriers that often prevent people from seeking help for chronic pain or mobility issues.
This approach of providing movement-based healthcare in community settings represents a practical response to a common problem: many people know they need care but struggle to justify the expense or find time to visit a clinic during business hours.
Ambitious Plans for Expansion
The organization isn’t stopping with occasional community events. Future plans include establishing a regular presence at farmers markets and other local gatherings where they can connect with people who need their services. The sliding scale model means no one has to walk away due to cost concerns.
Perhaps most ambitious is the goal of launching a fully functional mobile unit. This would allow the nonprofit to bring a complete range of chiropractic, soft tissue, and movement therapy services to various locations, effectively creating a healthcare service that comes to the patient rather than the other way around.
The mobile approach could prove particularly valuable in underserved areas where access to these types of healthcare services is limited or nonexistent. By eliminating the need for a fixed location, the organization could potentially serve a much wider geographic area and reach populations that face the greatest barriers to care.
For communities struggling with access to affordable bodywork and pain management services, The Called Co.’s model offers an alternative to simply going without care. As the organization grows and expands its reach, it will test whether charitable healthcare delivery can be sustainable while still meeting genuine community needs.
