Indiana Bill Aims To Increase Oversight of Retail Health Clinics

A bill sponsored by Indiana state Sen. Patricia Miller (R) aims to increase government oversight of and set new standards for retail health clinics in the state, the Indianapolis Star reports. There are about 300 retail health clinics in the state. Under Miller's proposal, the clinics would have to install entrances that are separate from the store entrance; train all staff in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; display fees outside of the examination rooms; and provide a detailed report of patients' visits to their primary care physicians, among other measures.

Currently, the Indiana State Department of Health does not license retail clinics but regulates them under the license of the physician affiliated with the clinic. Miller said, "We're just trying to make sure that [retail health clinics] meet standards like other physicians have to do." Dan Zacchei, a spokesperson for Take Care Health, a subsidiary of Walgreen, which has 10 clinics in the Indianapolis area, said the bill would impede the clinic's ability to deliver affordable care to patients. He said that about 30% of retail clinic patients do not have a primary care physician (Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 2/2).