Wiki Urgent Care vs regular walk-in clinic

[DebbiePottsEngland]

I have been given the task of determining if it would be to our benefit to classify ourselves as a urgent care clinic as appossed to a walk-in clinic. I know there is a different place of service code but is the re-imbursement really any different? don't they jsut code with the same new or established office visit codes that everyone uses?
can anyone give me a list of advantages or disadvantages?

thanks for your help in advance.

Debbie Potts
DMA

 

[tdml97@yahoo.com]

Hi

I had worked for an Urgent Care clinic

Reimbursement is not the best. Some insurances no matter how much was billed (visits,labs,x-rays) would only pay one fee for that visit. Others would pick up everything. Plus with Urgent Care - they do have a specific CPT code for the OV - you would have to check w/ each insurance carrier to see if they excepted that code or to just bill as normal. Also, you would have to set up contracts with each carrier for U.C.

Hope this helps alittle