India, Oct. 14 -- Many of us have probably skipped a doctor visit because it cost too much or took too long to arrange. In Charlotte, North Carolina, regular care was a real challenge for many people. In October 2017, Novant Health announced a $7 million gift from basketball star Michael Jordan to open two health clinics for families in the city. The clinics were intended to serve some of the city's most at-risk communities. Later, Novant Health reported that the two clinics had given patients more than 9,000 visits in 2023 alone.

The gift targeted an obvious weakness. Census data cited in the 2017 press release showed that more than 100,000 residents of Charlotte were not insured. Families in underserved communities also often had diffi...