Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Florida Hospitals Sue UnitedHealth Over ED Payments

Several Florida hospitals are suing UnitedHealthcare claiming the mega-insurer systematically underpays for emergency services. The 17 hospitals involved in the suit allege that the insurer failed to pay them the reimbursement rate required by Florida law, as reported by WKMG. The claims at issue in the argument involve only Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace exchange products. Last September, University of Florida Health and UnitedHealthcare parted ways after those network contract negotiations failed. It’s a …

Doxy PEP Demonstrates Real-World Effectiveness

A study of 2,083 patients found that doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP) was highly effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a real-world setting. Conducted from April 2019 to July 2024 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the study analyzed patient demographics, STI testing history, and doxy PEP use patterns. Nearly half of participants were aged 31–40, over half were White, and most (85.2%) were gay or bisexual men. Most were not diagnosed with …

CareFirst Acquires Rapid Relief Urgent Care in Kentucky

CareFirst Urgent Care has added 3 locations in Kentucky to its network through the acquisition of Rapid Relief Urgent Care. Updated signage, technology system transitions, and other improvements are planned, according to a company press release. Also with operations in Ohio and Nevada, CareFirst now expands its existing footprint to more than 40 locations. In Nevada, the company has a new center soon to open in the city of Henderson, but its largest market area …

More Measles Cases Expected in Texas Outbreak

A measles outbreak in Texas grew to 58 cases over the course of about a month as of February 18, 2025, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The first 2 cases were detected in January. As of this week, the vast majority of cases were reported in Gaines County. All but 4 cases involve either unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, according to the department, and confirmed cases are primarily …

Urgent Care Rises to Improve Rural Access to Care

Longstanding financial and logistical challenges seem to be intensifying for rural-area providers, as evidenced by new data from consulting firm Chartis, which highlights that 46% of rural hospitals currently have negative operating margins and many of those are in danger of closing. In the past year, 18 rural hospitals closed or transitioned to provide only outpatient care. Of the 48 states that are home to rural hospitals, 38 have at least one hospital that is …

Mobile Urgent Care Aims to Relieve ED Utilization

The Louisiana Medicaid program has created an emergency department (ED) utilization-reduction pilot that will run for the next 6 months, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The program will identify ED “super-utilizers” in an effort to better align their access points with their health needs as appropriate. Acadian Health, a home-health provider, will deliver care to patients at home with urgent care mobile units, reimbursed by 6 local Medicaid managed care organizations—specifically encompassing 5 …

Exemplar Care Acquisition Furthers Hy-Vee Foothold in Healthcare

Grocery chain Hy-Vee has become a joint owner of Exemplar Care, and the business line is now rebranded as Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, according to a press release. Existing centers will be renamed to Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, offering direct primary care and 24/7 urgent care where available. The model is targeted to employer groups who provide their employees prepaid access to unlimited primary and urgent care through memberships. There are 4 existing clinics in …

Hospital UC Deals Point to Shifting Market Dynamics

Hospitals and health systems are increasingly acquiring urgent care (UC) centers to further their brand presence in select markets and draw patients from UC into the systems’ many other service offerings. New competition from retail clinics and ongoing financial issues seem to be the motivators behind the deals, according to an analysis in Becker’s. A number of recent acquisitions are highlighted, including, for example, Community Health Systems’ purchase of 10 Carbon Health urgent care centers …

Unproven Lyme Disease Treatments Pose Potentially Dangerous Appeal to Patients

Many states with a high prevalence of Lyme disease are home to non-traditional clinics that often provide unproven treatments, potentially creating significant health and safety risks. Researchers examined treatments offered on the websites of 117 independent clinics across 14 high-prevalence states between February 2024 and April 2024, finding that less than half (53 clinics) had an MD or DO physician on staff, as published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Approximately 20% employed a naturopathic doctor, …

Fresh Flu Numbers Show Upward Trend — Possibly Still Short of the Seasonal Peak

Flu activity surged in the United States during the final week of January with healthcare visits for respiratory virus symptoms reaching a notably high level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flu test positivity rose to 31.6%, and outpatient visits for flu-like illness climbed to 7.8%, staying above the national baseline for the 10th consecutive week. Flu activity remains high or very high across most of the country. The CDC estimates …