By Alan Bavley, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

Nov. 24–The health care safety net doesn’t stretch very far into the south end of Kansas City. But that’s going to change next summer.

Local organizations plan to open a public safety-net clinic south of 75th Street as early as June. Officials will formally announce plans today.

“This is an area that tends to be very poor, and there’s a paucity of health care providers. There’s plenty of people who are forgoing care,” said Bridget McCandless, a physician and health policy adviser to the Local Investment Commission.

The commission, known as LINC, already operates school-based clinics throughout the metropolitan area. LINC will manage the new clinic as a freestanding facility. Swope Health Services will provide the medical care.

Uninsured patients who come to the clinic will pay for services based on their income. The clinic also will accept Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.

Startup money comes from a $320,000 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and $200,000 from the Kansas City Health Department. LINC expects the clinic to be self-supporting in three years.

A site hasn’t been chosen, but LINC is looking for a building west of Interstate 435.

The clinic will start with one physician. Additional staff will be added as demand for services grows.

McCandless expects that to happen fast.

She predicted that the clinic would see about 3,000 patients in its first 18 months.

“I anticipate we’ll outstrip (resources) very quickly,” she said.

Health care reform could make the demand for services even greater, McCandless said.

“When you insure more people, you’ll need (more) places to provide health care,” she said.

To reach Alan Bavley, call 816-234-4858 or send e-mail to abavley@kcstar.com.

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