Breaking Ground for New MCMC Rural Health Clinic

Raton, NM — An enthusiastic crowd gathered on the north end of MCMC Acute Care Facility on Monday, October 6th to break ground on the new 18,000 square foot Rural Health Clinic.  A beautiful sunny day greeted guests and workers as the $3.2 million dollar project was ceremonially started with the turning of the first spades of earth. 

Colfax County, Raton City officials, area business leaders/owners, MCMC Board of Trustees and Auxiliary members heard CEO Shawn Lerch tell the “team” that the support from the community has been amazing. That, coupled with the Acute Care and Long Term Facilities, MCMC is ready to go forward with the shift in the way healthcare is evolving.   They anticipate a facility that will draw patients from both sides of the NM/Colorado border and doctors who will be interested in working directly for a guaranteed regular salary instead of the costly liability insurance and groundwork for a private practice.

When fully accredited, the facility would be one of 3,800 nationwide according to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and would receive a greater amount of reimbursement for services to Medicare patients than other clinics are able to receive.

The clinic is being funded by a refinancing of the existing bonds that were issued when the acute care facility opened in 2007.  According to Lerch, the refinancing saved the hospital $1.5 million so that the payments are actually less than when originally issued and all will be paid off in 2027.   The Rural Health  Clinic is slated for completion in the summer of 2015.