Retail Healthcare News

“MedBasics Family Health Centers work well for the average American, always on the go,” said Kenneth Phenow, M.D., market medical executive for CIGNA. “From the parent trying to get a child’s immunizations up to date while running between children’s many activities to the working adult trying to get a minor illness checked during a lunch hour, retail clinics offer an affordable, efficient and convenient option.”

MedBasics Family Health Centers are located in Carnival Super Markets in Dallas-Fort Worth and inside USA Drug Stores in Little Rock, Ark., and are open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours. Members who visit MedBasics can receive a variety of routine, non-urgent and preventative medical services including immunizations, flu shots and treatments of common illnesses such as allergies, bladder infections, bronchitis, ear and sinus infections, fever and strep throat. Most visits are completed in an average of 15 minutes.

MedBasics claims are processed at the same benefit level as a primary care physician (PCP) office visit. For example, if a CIGNA member’s coinsurance for a PCP visit is 20 percent and the cost of the service is $60, the member out-of-pocket cost for a typical visit to MedBasics would be $12.

MedBasics encourages patients to have a “health care home,” a health care provider they see routinely for ongoing medical needs and routine exams. If patients do not have such a provider, MedBasics practitioners can refer them to a local physician accepting CIGNA members. Information about a patient’s care at MedBasics Family Health Centers can be shared with the individual’s primary care physician.

“This agreement will provide CIGNA members with another option for convenient and quick treatment for routine medical conditions at a cost significantly less than a trip to an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room,” said Brian Jones, MedBasics CEO. “We plan to continue to reach agreements with health insurance companies in order to make our services accessible and affordable for more individuals.”

CIGNA HealthCare was among the first health services companies to include retail clinics into its network, announcing the addition of MinuteClinic, Inc. RediClinic, Take Care Health Systems, Little Clinic and CIGNA Medical Group’s CMG CareToday clinics over the past two years. The addition of MedBasics to the CIGNA network of providers underscores the company’s commitment to expanding a broad suite of consumer-focused products and services designed to help members achieve their personal health goals.

Source: MSN Money
Original Publication Date: March 6, 2008