Concentra Urgent Care Saves Consumers Money During Tough Economic Times

Dallas, TX, March 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- In these challenging economic times, an increasing number of Americans are finding themselves responsible for the cost of their health care. To save money and still receive quality and comprehensive health care services, more and more U.S. consumers are turning to Concentra Urgent Care centers across the nation thanks to its recent Posted-Pricing and Concentive$ programs. In some of the nation’s largest cities, with multiple Concentra Urgent Care locations, patient volume continues to rise upwards of nearly 13 percent.

With rising unemployment, reduced or eliminated health care benefits, and costly premiums on employee health plans forcing many Americans to put off care for minor injuries or illnesses; Concentra recently made its urgent care services more affordable and accessible with the introduction of Posted-Pricing and Concentive$ coupons. Available at more than 300 national Concentra Urgent Care locations, these new programs bring complete transparency to consumer pricing. Program details include:

- a basic physician visit starts at $85
- a visit that includes an x-ray or lab tests costs $135
- should a patient need a procedure such as sutures or casting, the visit is no more than $169
- Concentive$ coupons, available at www.concentra.com or through their employers, help uninsured, self-pay patients receive additional savings on their visit
- Posted-Pricing and Concentive$ programs are intended for uninsured patients or patients with a high deductible

Comparable visits to the emergency room can cost upwards of $1000, with bills from multiple providers arriving months after a medical visit.

“Patients in need of quality health care are looking for ways to further reduce the overall cost of treatment,” said W. Tom Fogarty, Chief Medical Officer for Concentra. “Many cost-conscious consumers continue to select Concentra as a provider of care because of our new cost-effective programs, saving them hundreds of dollars in health care-related costs while still receiving a welcoming and skillful patient experience.”

► Download a Concentive$ coupon and see the Posted-Prices available at all Concentra Medical Centers

In a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 36 percent of consumers have put off a trip to the doctor due to the downturn in the economy. An additional 31 percent said they had skipped a test or treatment because of cost and nearly 23 percent said they have been forced to skip doses or forego necessary prescriptions in order to afford other necessities. Many Americans choose to forego basic health care because of the unknown costs, which often results in minor conditions evolving into medical emergencies that are far more costly to treat and increase time spent away from work.

Health-policy experts say patients who cut back on health care could experience more medical problems, resulting in higher costs in the future. As more people forgo screenings or wait until minor medical problems develop into serious complications, hospital and emergency-room visits will continue to rise. Concentra helps to alleviate this problem by providing patients with the necessary health care services they need, when they need them, at a considerable cost-savings.

“In today’s economic climate, many families and individuals in America are cutting back on their health care because of rising costs,” said Jim Greenwood, Concentra CEO. “Now more than ever, the care Concentra’s physicians offer is an excellent way for patients to benefit from affordable health care without having to compromise the quality of their health or the care they receive.”

At Concentra Urgent Care, patients have access to high-quality, affordable health care services at significant savings from that of an emergency room. Concentra Urgent Care offers treatment for a wide variety of common illnesses, including skin conditions, seasonal allergies, lacerations, fractures, sprains, and strains. Additional services include diagnostic tests, preventive screenings, physical exams, vaccinations, physical therapy, and more. The centers are conveniently located near patients’ home or workplace and are staffed with licensed physicians and medical providers experienced in urgent care cases as well as family practice and occupational medicine.

Concentra accepts numerous national group health insurance plans, and is continuously adding plans as the company expands it services. With locations throughout the nation, many with weekend and extended evening hours, Concentra delivers comprehensive health care solutions to patients – providing the care they need, when they need it most. To find a complete list of accepted health insurance plans, Concentra Medical Centers locations and hours of operations, and to download a Concentive$ coupon, visit www.ConcentraUrgentCare.com.

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