Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - the free clinic of meridian, a 501C3 organization, is requesting funding for expansion of its current facility

The expansion would include the following: 1. Addition of two exam rooms 2. Addition of a multi-use room for physical therapy, mental health counseling, and board meetings 3. Addition of one office 4. Addition of storage space 5. Enlargement of existing lab 6. Division of current multi-use room into one office and a medication room 7. Refiguring of existing handicap accessible restroom the clinic is currently housed in a small clinic provided by anderson regional medical center. However, as a result of our growth, we are in need of additional space in order to serve the needs of our patients. Architectural services for the project have already been donated. The expansion of the free clinic of meridian building is necessary due to the growing patient population. The clinic serves adults who are ineligible for medicaid or medicare and who earn 200% or less of the federal poverty level. The patient population has grown from a few hundred in 2014 to more than 1200 in 2022. Most of our patients are employed in low-paying jobs that do not offer medical insurance. We provide primary healthcare and referrals for specialized care. The existing clinic has four exam rooms and a small lab. The daily volunteer medical staff generally consists of two physicians and several nurses and/or medical assistants. The addition of two exam rooms and the enlargement of the existing lab would allow US to see more patients per day in a more efficient timeframe. In addition, one of the additional exam rooms would be equipped to allow physicians to perform minor procedures such as i & d of abscesses, mole and lesion removal, and biopsy of skin lesions. The additional office would provide a private space for both discussions with patients and telehealth calls. The additional multi-use room would provide space for physical therapy, mental health TH erapy, and other specialized needs. The free clinic serves patients in eight rural counties of east mississippi and west alabama. The percentage of uninsured adults in those counties ranges from 16.6% to 22.1%. Those living below the federal poverty level ranges from 22% to 22.7%. The free clinic of meridian focuses on the management of chronic illnesses which require consistent care. In our service area, residents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes ranges from 12.8% to 15.4%; hypertension 34.2% to 46.3%; and high cholesterol 34.8% to 42%, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in both mississippi and alabama. The lack of consistent care for these chronic illnesses places each uninsured individual at a higher risk for life threatening complications, which increases the burden on area hospitals, many of which are small rural facilities that are already struggling to remain open. The free clinic of meridian is totally supported by grants and donations. Rush health systems provides lab services that we are unable to process in our small space. Patient care is provided by volunteer physicians and nurse practitioners. Our partnership with practitioners EC healthnet's rural family residency program provides not only care for our patients, but also invaluable experience for these young doctors, many of whom have chosen to stay in rural areas of mississippi after completing their residency. Nursing services are provided by volunteer nurses and a partnership with area nursing education programs. Beginning in 2022, students from the physician assistant program through mississippi state university will also earn clinical hours in our clinic.