Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Removing Medical Debt From Credit Reports Could Create More Bad Debt for Providers

Now in its waning days, the Biden administration has finalized a regulation banning the inclusion of medical debt in American consumers’ credit reports. The rule would erase $49 billion in medical debts from the credit reports of about 15 million Americans, according to Reuters. The Consumer Data Industry Association and Cornerstone Credit Union League immediately filed a lawsuit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to prevent the law from taking effect. While excluding medical …

ACA Sign-Ups Continue to Rise, But Subsidies Expire Soon

A record 24 million people have signed up for insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. However, some observers are questioning the future trend, as the tax credits that provided financial help to millions of enrollees will expire at the end of this year unless Congress passes a new law to extend them. The enhanced subsidies came from the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and were extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of …

Ruling: Whistleblowers Cannot File False Claims Lawsuits

In Florida, a US District Court recently ruled that whistleblowers cannot file False Claims Act lawsuits on behalf of the federal government—known as qui tam provisions—because it’s unconstitutional. Current or former employees often file False Claims Act suits when they suspect their employer is committing fraud or filing inaccurate Medicare and Medicaid claims. In 2023, the courts assessed in more than $2.3 billion in lawsuits from private whistleblowers in all industries, according to Reuters. The …

Urgent Care Centers Could Become Safe Haven For Surrendered Newborns in PA

In Pennsylvania, the state senate approved legislation to expand its safe haven laws, allowing urgent care (UC) clinics to serve as locations where parents can surrender unharmed newborns. Many states have safe haven laws that include drop off points at hospitals and healthcare facilities, but Pennsylvania would be only the second to name UC clinics specifically. Minnesota is the only other state that specifies “urgent care” rather than just “health facility.” However, in Minnesota, the …

Veto Stops Bill to Review Healthcare Dealmaking in California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that was designed to require state approval for healthcare merger and acquisition deals involving private investors. The scrutiny was meant to increase oversight of private equity and hedge fund ownership transactions that have the potential to lead to consolidations and closures of healthcare provider operations. However, it’s important to note the reason behind the veto. Newsom reasoned that California has an existing Office of Health Care Affordability …

Noncompete Ban Thrown Out, FTC Aims to Appeal

A federal court in Texas has thrown out the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ban on noncompete language in employee contracts on the basis that the commission does not have the proper authority. An FTC committee moved in April to enact national policies against noncompete contracts that prohibit workers—including clinicians and executives—from going to market competitors or launching their own competitive businesses for a certain period of time after their contract with their employer ends. The …

PE Healthcare Investors Could Face Deal Reviews In California

A proposed bill in California aims to increase oversight of investments in healthcare by requiring private equity (PE) firms and hedge funds to notify the attorney general proactively to obtain approval of certain transactions, according to Kaiser Health News. The bill also reinforces existing state laws that prohibit nonphysicians from directly employing doctors or managing their activities. The proposed policy comes as PE dealings in healthcare are facing added scrutiny nationwide with growing concerns that …

Sepsis Procedures and Training Now Required For UC Centers in Maryland

A newly minted law in Maryland requires hospitals and urgent care centers to develop evidence-based protocols and education for the early recognition and treatment of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. And there’s a sense of urgency to develop new programs quickly because the clinical enhancements must be implemented on or before January 1, 2025. The policy is also known as “Lochlin’s Law,” named after a child who died of sepsis after a case of …

NPs Advocate for Independent Practice in Texas

In Texas, nurse practitioners (NPs) are advocating for legislation that would allow them to practice independently without physician oversight. Texas is 1 of just 11 states that require such supervision. Although the policy proposal still has a long way to go, medical professionals are using the interim to chime in on the pros and cons—including the enhanced capabilities with physician-led care as well as the costs of physician engagement, which could start at $50,000 a …

In Maryland, Supervised Staff Can Now Capture X-Rays

Maryland has finalized licensure-exception legislation to create a limited-scope x-ray technologist role that urgent care centers can now leverage to help extend the services their staff can provide. No license is required, but there are some criteria techs must meet, such as clinical experience, hours of training, and supervision by a licensed physician or radiologic technologist. The good news is that the staff who qualify can capture x-rays for almost any common concern, including spine, …

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