Health Center Program - Project Title: New Access Point Applicant Name: Mercy Medical Health Center Address: 244 Bond Street, Jonesboro, LA 71251 Project Director Name: Kimberly Brunson, CEO Phone Numbers: Voice: (318) 237-3879 Fax: (318) 259-1333 E-Mail Address: kim@lamercymedical.com Web Site Address: www.mercymedicalhealth.com Congressional District: LA-05 Type of Funding Requested: New Access Point Mercy Medical Health Center (MMHC) is a non-profit corporation in Louisiana that operates the Mercy Health Center, Mercy Pharmacy, and Mercy Dental, serving the populations of Saline, Simsboro, Chatham, Hodge, Jonesboro, Quitman, and Ruston. MMHC is seeking co-funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care, and New Access Point. Mercy Medical Health Center (MMHC) was established in May 2017, with a single location in Jackson Parish. With the financial support of CARES and other funding sources, MMHC has expanded its services to various areas, resulting in the opening of Mercy Dental in Ruston in 2021. Mercy Medical Health Center added specialists to our site, including infectious disease, gynecology, a certified dietician, counseling, a psychiatric provider, and an in-house pharmacy at the Jonesboro location. These services are available to all patients regardless of insurance status or the ability to pay. The primary service areas for MMHC encompass some of the state's most rural regions: Saline, Simsboro, Chatham, Hodge, Jonesboro, Quitman, and Ruston, which are in Lincoln, Bienville, and Jackson Parish. Jackson Parish areas (Chatham, Hodge, Jonesboro, and Quitman) have the highest concentration of services, where 21.8% of residents live in poverty. All designated service areas are Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). MMHC’s target population is all individuals with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level residing in the service area, emphasizing those facing disparities in healthcare access due to socioeconomic status, cultural background, or lack of health insurance. The primary healthcare needs in the service area addressed by MMHC include a need for primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers. MMHC actively addresses barriers to care, such as limited access to medical, dental, and mental health care, by offering a sliding fee scale for low-income citizens. Additionally, MMHC seeks to address the lack of providers participating in the Louisiana Medicaid Healthy Louisiana managed care initiative and dental Medicaid providers. In 2023, Mercy Medical Health Center (MMHC) effectively provided healthcare services to 8,047 patients, accommodating 29,367 visits. As an organization, MMHC is continuously expanding its operations and plans to create more than 150 full-time employment opportunities to cater to over 8,000 patients each year. Moreover, the center aims to enhance accessibility to its services by offering enabling services, discounted pharmaceuticals, and financial assistance to individuals in need. MMHC is dedicated to improving healthcare accessibility across its service areas, thereby contributing an estimated $20,000,000 annually to the economic growth of Lincoln, Bienville, and Jackson Parishes. In 2026, Mercy MMHC anticipates serving nearly 11,800 patients across its Health Center program.
