Sep 17, 2008 12:43 pm US/Eastern
CVS Opens First 'Minute Clinic' In Mass.
MEDWAY (WBZ) ―
The first "minute clinic" in Massachusetts opened Wednesday at a CVS pharmacy in Medway. These limited service medical clinics will be run by nurse practitioners, not doctors, and will not treat anyone under the age of two.
Minute Clinics will only treat basic illnesses, like ear infections or strep throat. You can also get diabetes screenings or vaccines. Patients are welcome seven days a week, with no appointment.
Currently the following insurers will cover Minute Clinic services in Massachusetts, though you should check with your insurer for any limitations.
- Aetna
- Assurant Health
- Assurant/Key Benefit Administrators (KBA)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- CBSA
- ChoiceCare Network (PPO) - Humana affiliate
- CIGNA
- Federated Mutual Insurance Company
- Great-West Healthcare
- Group Health Inc (GHI)
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- HealthLink PPO
- HealthMarkets
- Humana
- Pinnacle Health
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS)
- Tufts HealthPlan
- UniCare PPO (only)
- UnitedHealthcare
Prrices for treatment range from $59 to treat an ear infection or pink eye - to $110 for a meningitis vaccine. CVS has a more complete list of prices on its
Web site.
Many doctors say patients are best served in a physician's office, because some of the so-called "minor" illnesses are sometimes symptoms of bigger health problems.
CVS plans to open dozens more clinics in Massachusetts within the next several months, with the next ones planned for Bridgewater, Danvers, Taunton and Tewksbury.
Planned clinic hours in Massachusetts are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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