Tulsa Medical Clinic Providing More Affordable Health Care

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- It's been one of the most talked about topics in 2010 and since health care as we know it may be changing, many health care providers are looking at more affordable ways to provide medical care.

Access Medical Clinic is not insurance, it's a membership. The clinic says it's the first of it's kind in Tulsa and offers primary care cheaper than traditional offices.

Unemployed and uninsured, Shelly Jones says diabetes medication is too expensive.

"The diabetic medications that I am on are just outrageous," Jones said. "It's close to $800 a month."

Through a friend, she heard about Access Medical Clinic and can now manage the disease and the bill.

"And talking with Sandi, we've got it to where it's going to be like less than probably $100 a month," she said.

"There is a huge, huge population of people in Tulsa," said Sandi Mellor, Access Medical Clinic ARNP. "I was really surprised, that there are so many people that don't have insurance. And when you don't have insurance you don't get primary care. You don't do preventative care because you can't afford it."

Members pay a one-time $20 set up fee. They'll pay $25 a month for a 1-2 person family or $35 per month for a 3-person family. And a $50 fee per office visit.

And they don't charge for extras.

"It's another thing to not have to worry about," Mellor said. "I'm not going to be nickled and dimed to death for every lab that I have to do every X ray that I have to do to get regular primary care."

Administrator Cannen Ferrell says the clinic is similar to urgent care, but it's geared more towards long term primary care for those without insurance or those paying a high deductible.

"Now you have your day in and day out care taken care of," said Cannen Ferrell, Access Medical Clinic Administrator. "Then you are covered for the God-forbids. Stuff you need in the emergency room and hospital. That makes a lot of sense to me and that's why I got behind this."

Access Medical accepts most major insurance and Soonercare.

Ferrell says their goal is to cater to everyone.

Access Medical Clinic is located at 6080 South Sheridan. For more information visit their website or call 918-508-7440.