About MCAC

Who We Are

The Medical Care Access Coalition is a Marquette County based, 501 c 3, non profit that coordinates volunteered and donated medical care to the low income, uninsured in the County.

Medical Care Access Coalition (MCAC) is a faith based initiative, volunteer non-profit organization. It is comprised of civic leaders and representatives from medical, public health, mental health/substance abuse, faith-based and consumer groups of Marquette County, Michigan.

Our Mission and Vision

The Vision of MCAC is to provide "All people will have access with dignity to quality, affordable healthcare"

The Mission of MCAC is to "Develop a model system to provide needed healthcare to underserved individuals in Marquette County, and to assist other communities in doing the same"

Our History

The Medical Care Access Coalition was born out of a committee meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Marquette, Michigan. Attendees to the committee’s meetings began to investigate the issue of lack of access to primary health care for many of the citizens of Marquette County. Out of these early meetings, the church realized that there was indeed a population of citizens that had little or no access to basic medical care. It was retired minister Rev. David Mair who first pushed the committee to do something about it.

Early on, MCAC was mentored by the Buncombe County Medical Society (BCMS), whose volunteer physician program was already providing free access to care for North Carolina citizens. By using the volunteer services of medical professionals and building a network to other medical services (such as donated radiology, donated/ reduced cost prescription medications, laboratory work, etc), the BCMS’s clients were offered affordable primary care and management of chronic illness. MCAC carried this vision back with them to Marquette County in the new Medical Access Program (MAP).

By September of 2000, MCAC had incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) organization. This opened the door for MCAC to secure grant monies from several religious organizations, and for the Peninsula Medical Center to donate office space to the organization. In the summer of 2000, MCAC hired the first staff member, signed up dozens of volunteer physicians, and was well on the way to creating a sound infrastructure. By September 1 of 2001, MCAC had secured a federal Community Access Program grant (CAP Grant), and began enrolling patients into the Medical Access Program.

Our Founding Contributors:

Bell Memorial Hospital
The Community Access Program (CAP)
Community Volunteers
First Presbyterian Church
Lake Superior Hospice
Marquette Catholic Diocese
Marquette Community Foundation
Marquette County Health Department
Marquette General Health System
Marquette Rotary
Northern Michigan University
-Presbyterian Women U.S.A. Thank Offering
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
Saint Peter Cathedral
State and Federal Grants
Temple Beth Sholom
Upper Peninsula Medical Center