With the recent passage of the House Bill on Healthcare Reform, we can only guess how much it will change once the Senate gets a hold of it and further makes revisions. So, what do we common folk do while politicians duke it out on Capital Hill? Fortunately for me, I have health care coverage provided by my husband’s employer. However, about the millions of others who do not? There is a little bit of relief in the form of retail clinic care.

Last year, I notice one open up at the local CVS by parent’s house. It looks like any other medical clinic, except there is one Nurse Practitioner who handles everything. Sometimes she might have a medical assistant with her. These clinics are walk-in so no appointments are necessary. You can read more about CVS’s Minute Clinic here.

Insurance or No Insurance

You can check with each clinic to see what types of insurance they accept. However, if you don’t have insurance, they accept cash.

CVS example of services include: (check with your local clinic, but these are

• Minor Illness Exam $62.00 
• Minor Injury Exam $62.00 
• Skin Condition Exam $62.00 
• Wellness & Prevention $20.00-60.00
• Vaccinations $30-112.00

Clinics Cost Much Less

Retail clinics charge about half of what doctor offices and urgent care centers charge and 87% less than emergency rooms.  However, prescription costs are about the same as doctor offices and urgent care centers. 

Who Uses the Clinics?

Most patients are younger, as older patients over the age of 50 have established relationships with their primary doctors. I would have liked to see something like this right after I got out of the university, I didn’t have the student services any more, and between the ages of 22-26, I was without insurance. I was only working part-time while attending a trade school and so I didn’t have health insurance available to me.  

Who runs the clinics?

Either Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners run the clinics at these type of outlets. Is it something to worry about ? No. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants generally have graduate degrees beyond their traditional 4 year degree and clinical training. Nurse Practitioners, under the direction of a doctor can prescribe medicine, make some diagnoses and also perform minor surgery (under supervision). 

Learn more about retail medical clinics at these other sources below.

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• If a Health-Care Bill Passes, Nurse Practitioners Could Be Key (time.com)
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• Retail medical clinics can provide care at lower cost, similar quality as other settings (scienceblog.com)