Press Release

AUGUST 11, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steve Douglas, Marketing and Public Relations

(417)658-6383

steven.douglas@accessfamilycare.org

www.accessfamilycare.org

Health Center Receives Grant for New Medical Clinic in Lamar, Missouri

Access Family Care Medical and Dental Clinics to Serve Barton County

Neosho, MO August 11, 2015— United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today a Grant Award of  $487,000 to Access Family Care Medical and Dental Clinics.  The $487,000 award will allow Access Family Care to open a new Medical Clinic, in Lamar, Mo.  The new Medical Clinic will serve the people of Barton County, Missouri.   

“Across the country, health centers have provided a source of high-quality primary care for people in rural and urban communities for 50 years,” said Acting Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield. “These Affordable Care Act funds build on the strong legacy of the health center program and provide even more individuals and families with access to the care they need the most.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 data, an estimated 773,000 Missourians lacked health insurance, as of 2013.  It is the Mission of the Access Family Care to serve all persons quality affordable health care, with a direct emphasis on care to the under insured and un-insured population. 

The new Lamar Medical Clinic must be operational within 120 days, in order to fulfill the Grant Award requirements.  Access Family Care is excited to bring its great medical services to the people of Barton County.  Don McBride, Chief Executive Officer, said, “This is a very exciting day, for us at Access Family Care.  For a couple of Years, we have been working diligently to bring our quality medical services to Lamar. We especially look forward to working with Barton County Memorial Hospital and help them shoulder the medical needs of the uninsured and underinsured. We are working to build relationships and provide great care, across all of Southwest Missouri.  Barton County will become an important part of our Family!”

ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS), was founded in 1996 as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for the purpose of increasing access to primary health care for those who lack medical insurance coverage. As an FQHC, ACCESS receives a 330 Federal grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care designed to offset the expenses associated with providing sliding fee discounts to patients who demonstrate economic need.

ACCESS Family Care Medical and Dental Clinics employ 173 people, as of July 2015, and are headquartered in Neosho, Mo.  ACCESS Family Care provides Medical and Dental services through operations in Joplin, Anderson, and Cassville.  ACCESS Family Care provides Medical services only through Clinics in Neosho and Mount Vernon.

###