Clinic opens in Fitchburg Walgreens

Jun 25, 2008 (The Wisconsin State Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WAG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The Madison area's first medical clinic inside a store has opened, at the Walgreen Drug Store at Fish Hatchery and McKee roads in Fitchburg.

Walgreens has also opened Take Care Health Clinics at stores in Ashwaubenon and Neenah in addition to the 10 clinics it had at stores in the Milwaukee area, the company said Tuesday.

The move comes as Meriter Health Services plans to open clinics at the Shopko stores near East Towne Mall and West Towne Mall in mid-October.

Nearly 1,000 retail stores have clinics around the country, with 1,500 expected by the end of the year, according to the Convenient Care Association in Philadelphia.

The Take Care clinic in Fitchburg is staffed by nurse practitioners who treat walk-in patients with common illnesses such as strep throat, ear and sinus infections and pink eye. It also offers school and camp physicals and some vaccinations.

Patients with national insurance plans -- such as Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, along with Medicare and Medicaid -- pay their regular co-pay. Those with other health plans or no insurance pay fees ranging from $59 to $74.

At the Meriter clinics, which will offer similar services, patients will be charged a flat fee of about $45 and insurance can then be billed, Meriter officials have said.

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