Urgent Care Centers

The urgent care model is popular among physicians looking to own their own practice. It has several attractive features compared to other practice models, including higher reimbursement rates, relatively low regulatory oversight, and low startup costs. Urgent care centers can be a lucrative business for general and family practice physicians.

Our transactional attorneys help practice owners build and protect their investment. Our team of transactional attorneys have advanced law degrees in health care law and are exceptionally educated and experienced in matters related to practice ownership. They are capable of handling the most complex business arrangements, including:

• Business: formation, acquisition, sales, ownership structure, corporate ownership and franchise issues, joint ventures, change of ownership (CHOW), clinic closures, partnership agreements, management agreements, etc.
• Contracts and credentialing: negotiate payor contracts and reimbursement rates, credentialing issues, accreditation issues, etc.
• Employment: medical director agreements, physician contracts, locum agreements, NP collaboration agreements, staff contracts, employment disputes, termination issues, non-compete agreements, etc.
• Licensing: clinic license (or exemption), facility permits, clinical laboratory license, CLIA certificate, medical waste producer licenses, x-ray registration, DEA Registration, disciplinary action, etc.
• Compliance: state regulations, HIPAA, fraud and abuse laws, CMS regulations, billing guidelines, etc.
• Diagnostic and treatment equipment: MRI accreditation, x-ray license, review diagnostic referral practice for compliance with fraud and abuse laws, Certificate of Need (Michigan), etc.
• Policy and procedure: daily operations, hiring, background screening, recordkeeping, adverse incident reporting, etc.
• Pharmacy: state permits, DEA Registration, policy and procedures, inspections, etc.

Many urgent cares utilize advanced practice providers to provide care. These urgent cares should ensure they properly supervise these providers, as failure to supervise could lead to administrative action and civil liability. Our attorneys assist urgent cares in preparing written protocols for supervision of mid-levels. We also assist with preparation of medical director contracts, provider contracts, and locum agreements.