Connecticut Tries (Again) to Regulate Urgent Care Centers

Connecticut Tries (Again) to Regulate Urgent Care Centers

Connecticut lawmakers apparently think “If at first you don’t succeed…” is the perfect approach to slapping licensing fees on the urgent care industry. Democrats in the state House of Representatives have inserted a provision in the current proposed budget that would require all urgent care centers there to carry a distinct license. The problem (for them) is, they don’t have an abiding definition of what constitutes an urgent care center. Currently, the law views urgent …

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GoHealth, Hartford HealthCare Team Up to Expand Reach in Connecticut

GoHealth, Hartford HealthCare Team Up to Expand Reach in Connecticut

GoHealth Urgent Care is going to open 15 new urgent care centers cobranded with Hartford HealthCare over the next 18 months. Hartford says it will benefit by bringing in a greater number of patients, by virtue of having more access points. GoHealth will have the benefit of technology standards like “smart glass” procedure rooms, mobile x-ray equipment, and a broader, unified electronic health records system. The partnership will also increase GoHealth’s visibility in central and …

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Update: More Zika Cases in More States

Update: More Zika Cases in More States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says there have been 258 cases of Zika virus in the U.S., with 35 states reporting at least one confirmed case—up from 29 states counted just two weeks prior. Florida has seen the most (59), followed by New York (42) and Texas (34). Connecticut and New Mexico reported their first confirmed cases during that time. While most cases are still presumed to be travel-related, it is thought …

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‘Step Therapy’ Usually Not What the Doctor Ordered

‘Step Therapy’ Usually Not What the Doctor Ordered

Proponents say “step therapy” will save the healthcare system big money while still allowing patients the medications they need. Opponents call it “fail first” and insist that the practice of having patients try cheaper versions of prescribed medications—with insurers paying for the more expensive variety only if the cheaper drug doesn’t do the job—is a bitter pill to swallow. Some clinicians claim the practice, which in effect has insurers overriding a prescriber’s choice of medications …

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