SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Mercy and MSU have been working together to expand healthcare access at the MSU Care Clinic, which can now accept patients with Medicaid.

According to a press release from Mercy, the MSU Care Clinic is a collaborative effort between the hospital and Missouri State University that opened in 2015 to provide free health services and medication to underserved and uninsured patients.

In the past, patients must be between 18 and 64 years old, have no health insurance, be ineligible for Medicaid, and meet household income requirements. Starting Sept. 3, the clinic eliminated the Medicaid ineligibility requirement in order to expand access to more people.

Three years ago, the Care Clinic saw an average of 330 patients each month. Nowadays, that number is closer to 85. Mercy says the drop in patients came as a result of Missouri's Medicaid expansion.

"We saw that expansion happen during the pandemic, and it gave greater access to Medicaid to those who needed it most," said Justin Gassel, clinic manager at the MSU Care Clinic, in a statement. "But it also meant our clinic suddenly couldn't accept a large number of patients we were previously caring for."

Gassel said removing the Medicaid eligibility requirement will restore the Care Clinic's ability to serve some of the community's most underserved patients.

One of the clinic's goals is to provide care for uninsured patients whose lack of access to primary care can result in emergency room visits, Gassel said. "That is not the best place for patients who simply need help managing routine care like diabetes and blood pressure," he said.

While primary care is the main focus at the Care Clinic, other services are available, including simple procedures, vaccines, pharmacy counseling, nutritional guidance, lab work, EKGs and more.

The clinic says it expects an increase in patients now that it can accept those with Medicaid.

News Source : https://www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/msu-care-clinic-now-accepting-patients-with-medicaid/