NEWS — AUGUST 2007
Retail Clinics: Concerns & Conflicts
New retail clinic locations are being opened every month. Journalists and media outlets continue to cover what's going on from a broader perspective. Competition and controversy are two common denominators in this month's news.
The American Medical Association's Latest Issues With Retail Clinics
As reported by numerous online and print sources over the years, the American Medical Association (AMA; Chicago IL) has raised issues about how retail clinics are operated. There's been a flurry of news articles this month that are revisiting the topic.
The latest concern is whether retail clinics are operated independently without influence from retail stores. As reported in June by Medical News Today, AMA members and spokespeople are asking the following kinds of questions:
- Are incentives affecting the quality of care for patients?
- Is there a conflict of interest in the relationships established between clinics and retail stores?
- Can federal and state agencies investigate to determine if there are problems?
- Will legislation be implemented to regulate the industry?
- Why do some health insurance companies waive or lower patients' co-payments for services provided at retail clinics but still require physicians to collect them?
On the surface, these issues are about fairness and patient safety. The explosion in retail clinics is also about competition -- which resources do consumers use to obtain health and medical services. For minor ailments and standard testing, patients are taking advantage of the benefits offered by retail clinics --affordable, convenient, quick services that are provided immediately. Losing those patients may be another reason for the ongoing debate between the medical community and retail clinics.
To read the article, visit: Medical News Today.
Industry Perspectives On The Retail Clinic Market
A journalist from The Associated Press continued coverage of the topic in August and conducted interviews with various organizations and industry participants. According to the Convenient Care Association (Philadelphia PA), approximately 7% of Americans have visited retail clinics one or more times. CCA market forecasts estimate the total number of U.S. retail clinics will increase to 700 by the end of 2007 — a huge jump from the 400 sites that were in operation as of April 2007 (Feedback Research Services' July 2007 press release).
Patients are impressed with how quickly they are seen and treated. Some health insurance companies are covering patients' costs. According to the CCA, 40% to 50% of retail clinics accept insurance from companies such as Aetna (Hartford CT), Humana (Louisville KY) and UnitedHealth (Minneapolis MN).
The American College of Nurse Practitioners (Arlington VA) notes that nurse practitioners can treat patients on their own in 23 states, while other states require physician collaboration or supervision. Retail clinics operate under the same standards as physicians' offices, and oversight is the responsibility of state boards of nursing and/or boards of medicine, according to a CCA spokesperson.
The AMA has called for more oversight, based on concerns about conflicts of interest and the lack of consistent regulation (June 2007). Some state legislatures have delineated the role of nurse practitioners at retail clinics. Not surprisingly, officials at some retail companies consider the state rules to be too restrictive.
To read the artcile, visit: CentreDaily.For past news, visit Feed-back.com's News Archive.
