Lawrence-based Heartland Community Health Clinic will receive a one-time payment of $25,000 from the Lawrence City Commission to help the nonprofit company better bill insurance companies for services provided at the clinic.

Commissioners approved the special funding request on a 4-1 vote at their Tuesday evening meeting.

The $25,000 will be used to help hire a medical billing employee for the clinic, which is located in the former Riverfront Mall building in downtown Lawrence. The new position will allow the not-for-profit center to submit more claims to insurance companies for services provided.

The city will pay for the request using money it receives from liquor tax money from the state. City Commissioner Mike Amyx voted against the request because he said competition for the special alcohol funding is competitive, and the city was forced to turn down several worthy requests during last summer’s budget process.

A representative of Heartland Clinic said he expects the billing position to be self-sufficient with a year. The organization requested money from both the city and the county to help cover start-up costs for the position.