Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

UCs in NY Can No Longer Require Credit Cards Kept on File

The North East Regional Urgent Care Association (NERUCA) Governmental Affairs Committee recently notified members via email about a freshly minted New York budget rule that includes provisions that effectively prohibit urgent care (UC) operators from requiring patients to leave credit card information on file for payment. Most UCs require a card on file so they can collect the appropriate out-of-pocket responsibility after claims adjudication. However, the new law, General Business Law 519-a, essentially eliminates any …

Kentucky First State to Decriminalize Medical Errors

Kentucky passed a law that protects healthcare workers from being criminally prosecuted for medical errors. One of the upsides is that physicians, nurses, and other practitioners might be encouraged to report errors to improve patient safety. In terms of workforce, the state’s nurses association believes the law’s protections will help recruit more nurses to the profession, as reported by MedPage Today. State licensing boards can still review mistakes and take action as necessary. A ceremony …

Alaska Considers Concierge Medicine

Lawmakers in Alaska have approved a bill to legalize subscription-based healthcare in the state. If signed into law by the governor, providers would be able to offer care to patients who pay a monthly fee without leveraging any insurance benefits, according to Anchorage Daily News. The bill includes a provision requiring subscription-based clinics to continue accepting Medicare patients and the uninsured. The provision is meant to address the shortage of providers willing to accept patients …

Congress Considers PE Licensing For Healthcare Investments

Congressional leaders are doubling down on their scrutiny of how private equity (PE) ownership may potentially be influencing care within PE investor’s portfolios of healthcare companies, according to a summary from Axios. One Senate proposal entered into discussion recently suggests that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should have the authority to halt certain healthcare PE transactions by creating licensing standards for firms before they can invest in healthcare assets. Leaders are also …

UCA Highlights Bipartisan Effort to Encourage Use of UC

The Urgent Care Association (UCA) recently led a new effort that asks the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to include policies in the forthcoming FY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule that would encourage those covered by Medicare and Medicaid to seek non-emergent care at urgent care centers. A letter written by Ann Kuster (D-NH), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Michael Burgess (R- TX) that was signed by 26 members of Congress from both …

Law Doubles the Penalties for Assaulting Healthcare Workers in Michigan

Michigan has 2 new laws going into effect on March 4 to combat the frightening rise in verbal and physical attacks on healthcare workers. The bipartisan bills, signed into law by the governor in December, double the penalties and fines for assaulting healthcare professionals or volunteers, according to a news item in Crain’s Grand Rapid Business. Offenders face up to a 93-day jail sentence and a $1,000 fine for assaulting workers on duty. If the …

Oregon Seeks to Limit PE Ownership of Urgent Cares

In Oregon, proposed legislation could dramatically limit corporate ownership of primary care, specialty, and urgent care clinics. Proponents say they’re concerned about the potential quality issues, staff reductions, increased costs, and the “depersonalization” of ownership they believe comes with private equity control, according to an article by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The bill’s language builds on existing rules in the state and would require clinics with corporate ownership to ensure the majority owners (51%) are physicians. …

Regulators Consider Standard Licensing for UC Centers

Massachusetts regulators are considering new measures to create a standard licensure for urgent care (UC) centers in the state in an effort to “apply care standards and improve quality of care,” according to the Worcester Business Journal. Officials also want the ability to collect uniform quality-of-care data from all UC operators, noting that last year, only about one-fourth of the centers in the state reported their data to the US Centers for Disease Control and …

Telemedicine Leads to Referrals

A recent JAMA Network Open Viewpoint article explored the frustrations resulting from the expiration of temporary regulatory changes that were implemented by almost all states to allow physicians to provide telehealth across state lines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the end of the public health emergency, many licensing waivers ended as well. Some argue that licensure should remain under control of the state while others advocate for a single federal license or full …

State Laws Guarantee PTO for Employees In 2024

Starting January 1, 2024, employers in several states are implementing new laws regarding time off for employees. For example, in Minnesota, employers must provide paid leave under the earned sick and safe time law. Those working at least 80 hours in a year within the state—including part-time employees—are eligible for the benefit. An employee now earns a guaranteed 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 …