( Massachusetts health officials are all ...)Retail Health Clinics Start Shop,Health

Massachusetts health officials are all set to oil the wheels of retail-based medical clinics. Accordingly, they will propose new regulations to allow for the operation of these clinics . They vouch that the move could also encourage not-for-profit hospitals, community health centers and businesses to expand basic medical services.

The proposed changes were triggered by a recent application by CVS Caremark Corp. to open a retail clinic, MinuteClinic, in one of its stores in Weymouth - a first of its kind in the state.

Yet, current regulations do not cover the operation of retail clinics. Says Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby:"Rather than considering applications that require numerous waivers, we believe we should consider an alternative set of regulations that, if approved, will make the application process for operating limited service medical clinics transparent to any entity that feels they have a role in their community. The move will allow not-for-profit hospitals, community health centers and others to expand the provision of basic health services through such facilities, according to the statement.

There are about 500 retail-based health clinics nationwide, according to Carolyn Castel, spokeswoman for CVS Caremark Corp., the parent company for MinuteClinic, a Minneapolis-based chain of about 200 clinics in 20 states.

At the same time, critics have warned that such retail clinics may pose a conflict of interest that put profits ahead of patient health. On June 25, the American Medical Association, the nation's largest physicians group, asked state and federal agencies to look into whether pharmacy chain-owned clinics in stores urge patients to get their prescriptions filled on site, which the AMA maintains would pose a conflict. It also said that insurance companies should be banned from waiving or lowering co-payments only for patients who get treatment at store-based clinics.


'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Viread To Retail In India For $1
2. Impact of New Drug Retail Prices Soon: Paswan
3. Retail Clinics Becoming Increasingly Popular in US
4. SKorean Online Dogmeat Retailer Closes Site Amid Uproar
5. Startling Expose – Physicians Often Have No Regular Source Of Health Car
6. Want a Healthy brew? Have some Tea!
7. Healthcare sector is now a multi billion-dollar industry in India
8. Exclusive breast-feeding advised for six months in infants recommends World Health Organization
9. Health at heights
10. Health Officials Recommend Flu Vaccine
11. Slightly High BP Poses Health Risk