Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

AHA Cites Labor Costs and Administrative Burdens as Top Financial Issues

Hospitals and health systems are facing significant financial pressures that make it difficult for them to balance their budgets year after year, according to a new economic report from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Even as the pandemic eased in 2023, they dealt with rising expenses stemming from high labor, drug, and supply costs, as well as increasing administrative burdens. Meanwhile, reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid programs haven’t kept up with the rising costs, and …

Quantifying the Change Healthcare Cyberattack

A survey conducted by the American Hospital Association (AHA) from March 9-12, 2024, found that among the 1,000 hospitals responding, 94% say they are experiencing financial impact related to the Change Healthcare cyberattack that was first discovered on February 21. According to AHA, more than half of the surveyed hospitals say they are facing “significant or serious” impact. Additionally, more than 80% of hospitals say the cyberattack has affected their cash flow, and 74% of …

Financial Health Still Tenuous Since the Pandemic

Twelve percent of clinicians health executives say they remain pessimistic about their organizations ever fully restoring their financial health to prepandemic levels, according to a report by NEJM Catalyst that was analyzed by Becker’s Hospital Review. The revelation has raised concerns within the healthcare industry. Despite an increase in patient volumes, 54% of respondents (health systems, clinics, physician organizations, or other facilities) reported that their organization’s financial health was somewhat or significantly worse than before …

Urgent Care Pay to Start at $25 Per Hour Minimum in California

A bill that has found its way through the California Legislature aims to raise minimum wages for healthcare workers. Those who work in urgent care centers are specifically called out in measures included in SB 525. Governor Gavin Newsome has until October 14 to sign or veto the bill. According to Cal Matters, the amended version of the policy has the support of the state’s hospital association, employers, and labor groups. How it rolls out: …

Yes, You Can Market Different Types of Care Under One Umbrella—with the Right Approach

Comarketing different aspects of your urgent care operation may not only be possible, but downright advisable according to an article published recently by Physicians Practice. Most obviously, devising (or more to the point, paying an agency to devise) separate strategies for your urgent care and primary care services, for example, is obviously more costly. However, the article also points out that such an approach disregards the fact that patient needs can be complex and while …

Suddenly, Retail Landlords Are Warm to the Idea of Urgent Care Tenants

Time was that retail shopping centers and other commercial spaces were off limits to urgent care operators searching for new locations. The presumption was that a medical facility would not only fail to attract foot traffic, but might even drive away shoppers who didn’t want to run into possibly contagious people on their way into Old Navy or coming out of Panera on their way back to work. Fast forward to 2022 and real estate …

The Clock Is Ticking for Urgent Care Operators to Move on Obtaining PPP Money

As of this writing, there remains roughly $150 billion available through the Payroll Protection Program. With the March 31 application deadline for first- and second-time prospective borrowers now in sight, however, the window for obtaining support that might help you keep your business afloat is closing. Some of the community banks charged with facilitating loans are targeting niche customers within certain markets—which could work to your advantage—such as businesses with fewer than 20 employees. Obviously, …

In COVID-19-Induced Economic Peril? PPP Loans Are Back on the Table

Urgent care operators who missed the boat on the first round of Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration—or those who have already taken part and need additional help—take heed: the window for both the first and second draw is open again. As in the first leg of the program, loans are actually issued through particular banks, though the SBA has set up a lender match feature to help applicants connect with lenders. …

How Will New Details of the Paycheck Protection Program Affect Your Urgent Care Center?

The Small Business Administration just released new details of its Paycheck Protection Program—including which businesses (including urgent care centers) will be identified publicly by name; the status of “loan forgiveness” considerations; and extension of the PPP through August 8. The SBA released the names of businesses that borrowed more than $150,000 through the PPP. Businesses that borrowed less remain anonymous. The SBA has not started accepting applications for loan forgiveness yet. Banks that are facilitating …

Know the Rules Regarding Overtime for NPs and PAs—or Face the Justice System

The United States Department of Labor has ordered a Mississippi urgent care operator to pay $147,622 in back wages to 16 nurse practitioners who were illegally deprived of overtime pay. The operator classified the NPs as independent contractors rather than employees and, as such, paid them a regular hourly rate—even when they worked more than 40 hours in a week, which is where they ran afoul of the law. The Department of Labor found that …

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