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Paul Hsieh, MD of Sedalia writes:

As a physician, I wholeheartedly agree with the RMN position favoring in-store health clinics ("The Cheaper Option", July 5, 2007), and I disagree with the AMA position against them. If a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant in a clinic is offering an honest service for a good price, and the patients find that acceptable, then nobody should interfere with their right to trade according to their best rational judgment.
Such in-store clinics are especially good at providing affordable quality health care to those without insurance and those with Health Savings Accounts, as noted by Grace-Marie Turner in the 5/14/2007 Wall Street Journal.
If the AMA truly wants what’s best for patients, it should support such free-market medicine, rather than oppose it.
For more information on free market medicine, go to
http://www.WeStandFIRM.org .

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Amen, Paul. People need to understand that if you are uninsured or underinsured you have more than two options. Most people still think that the only way to get access to health care without insurance is to go to the ER. People should realize that almost any family practice doctor will see them even if they are uninsured and can set up payment options. Going to a doctor's office as opposed to the ER would save tons of money but people don't think that a doctor will see them without insurance and hopefully they figure out the error of their ways. And of course I think the in-store clinics is a great way to save even more money for the un-insured. Some people apparently think that the care recieved at in-store clinics is inadequate but for an otherwise healthy person, if all you need is to get someone to prescribe an antibiotic for your infection or strep throat why would you need any other services. The options are out there I just hope people are smart enough to figure them out.

Who evaluates or underwrites the diagnostic and therapeutic basis that these in-store clinics use?

I used the Walmart in store clinic after taking my daughter to her regular Dr. My daughter had a sore throat,sinus infection and a cough that was keeping her up at night and making her throat more sor. He regular dr. refused to give her a drug that has always worked in the past,Donatussin. She told me to give her cough drop and water.

I heard about the Walmart clinic ,took her there and was only charged a $25 co-pay because they didn't have my insurance yet,but were in the process. The looked at her and said we will give her some Donatussin and gave me a 10 day supply of samples for free. I wish I could get a refund from her regular Dr. for lack of proper service.

I'm changing Dr.'s,but I wish we could dispute an insurance claim when a Dr. doesn't deserve to pe paid.

I have never been to a Dr.'s office that didn't have a sign up that said, Full payment due when services are rendered. I have never heard a receptionist say oh we will bill you or sure you can make payments. Get real.

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