COLUMBUS, Ohio — As federal lawmakers debate whether to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, a Franklin County nonprofit that provides free prescription medication to residents in need is preparing for a potential increase of patients.

Enhanced tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year. If they do, millions of Americans with ACA marketplace plans could see significant increases in their monthly premiums, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Inside Livingston United Methodist Church sits the Charitable Pharmacy, which provides free prescriptions to people in need.

"The stories are heartbreaking. The level of desperation, the hard trade-offs people are making," said Dr. Taylor Reed, the pharmacy's executive director.

Last year, the Charitable Pharmacy served close to 1

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