Mercy and Humana have teamed up to open new 65 Prime+ by Mercy Primary Care clinics, which are specifically geared toward making it easier for patients who are 65 years and older on Medicare to get the care, education and support they need when it comes to their health. After announcing plans in January of this year, Mercy and Humana decided to open the first two clinics in the Ozarks. The first 65 Prime+ clinic opened in Springfield, Missouri, on June 4, and the second opened in Nixa, Missouri.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of adults who are 65 and older has increased by more than a third over the past decade. Prior to the collaboration with Humana, Mercy introduced 65 Prime+ clinics in 2023 to meet the changing health care needs of this growing population with the first clinic in Joplin, Missouri. With Humana, Mercy plans to increase the number of these clinics across the state with talks to expand into additional communities Mercy serves, including in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
These clinics will be in-network for most Medicare Advantage plans and will also accept Original Medicare. As part of the collaboration, Mercy and Humana will select sites for the 65 Prime+ clinics that provide the most convenient access for patients. Each clinic will be able to care for up to 2,000 new patients, and they offer a different model of care than most patients are used to when visiting the doctor: Extended visit times so patients get the attention they need; More frequent visits to keep ongoing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease under control; Regularly scheduled appointments within a week; Same-day or next-day appointments for urgent concerns or sudden, severe conditions; Access to a community room where the public can take part in a range of community-centric educational seminars, fitness classes and more.
