Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Medicare-Only Clinic Now Operating in South AnchorageThe non-profit organization hired a business-planning firm from the Lower 48 to see whether an operational model emphasizing maximum efficiency in every staff position would pencil out.A new health clinic in Anchorage might be the nation's first Medicare-only facility. This evening, an open house is celebrating the launch of the Alaska Medicare Clinic on Old Seward Highway in south Anchorage.
At a time when many anchorage physicians are refusing to take Medicare patients because of inadequate reimbursement rates, a group led by Dr. George Rhyneer has established a primary health care clinic that will take just those patients.
The non-profit organization hired a business-planning firm from the Lower 48 to see whether an operational model emphasizing maximum efficiency in every staff position would pencil out.
"They came to a conclusion that we could make a go of it doing things as we proposed,” Rhyneer said. “That being said, we are not entirely sure that it will do that. So this in some respects is a little bit of an experiment, because this practice, and this way of practicing, and this Medicare-only clinic, as far as we know, is the only one of its kind in the country."
Clinic Manager Kirsten Gurley explained: "What we're doing is combining our staff with the space and technology to maximize the staff's expertise, to the maximum level that we can, doing as much as we can to facilitate the physician, so that the physician does only those things that he uniquely can do."
The effort was possible because of $1 million in seed money from the Legislature.
Senator Kevin Meyer, who was House Finance co-chair when the money was inserted in the capital budget a few years ago, says he's not worried about the Alaska Medicare Clinic breaking even.
"Certainly the demand is going to be there,” Meyer said. “We're all getting older, and there's an estimate that in the next three years 40 percent more people will be Medicare-eligible here in Alaska."
And Rhyneer sees the potential for expansion.
"If the experiment is successful, and we believe that it will be, it's the kind of practice that can be reconstructed in other communities -- in the valley, on the peninsula, in other parts of the country, actually. So this is in our estimation somewhat of a demonstration project."
The Alaska Medicare clinic is starting with one physician, three nurses and three physicians' assistants.
At peak efficiency, Rhyneer expects to serve 50 or more patients a day.
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Anonymous said on Monday, Sep 19 at 4:07 PM
Now why would your clinic deny appointment to a medicare patient just because he is 49
74052439Alaska Medicare Clinic said on Monday, Jun 6 at 11:56 AM
we are located at 11260 Old Seward Hwy Ste 107. Right in between Ihop and Wendys, perfect for a doctors office ;), on the west side of the street. we would love to see you!
68481874locolobo said on Sunday, Jun 5 at 4:47 PM
This is awesome! Finally a doctor that wont turn me away because i have medicaid. I agree with anonymous that more info about where this place is would have been the decent thing to do.
68437022Anonymous said on Sunday, Jun 5 at 10:27 AM
An address or shot of the building from the outside would have been nice! Nowhere in the story does it give the location or directions to find it, other than on the Old Seward Highway, which is very vague.
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