What I’m Hearing from Employers: A Growing Opportunity for Urgent Care

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Strategic Leadership Summit hosted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (NAHPC) in St. Louis. The theme of the meeting was “Go Direct: Employers Redefining Value in Healthcare Contracting,” and it brought together employers, healthcare purchaser coalitions, benefits leaders and other stakeholders focused on improving the value of healthcare for employees and their families. The discussions centered on employer-aligned primary care, onsite and near-site clinics, direct contracting, transparency and innovative approaches to managing healthcare costs.

As I listened to leaders from across the country, one message came through loud and clear – employers are frustrated with the healthcare system and are actively looking for alternatives. Healthcare costs continue to rise faster than inflation. Access to primary care remains inadequate in many markets. Employees often struggle to get timely appointments, leaving employers paying more for care while receiving less value in return.

In conversation after conversation, employers described a healthcare system that is increasingly difficult to navigate and increasingly difficult to afford.  What was particularly striking was the consistency of the message regarding primary care.  Not a single person I spoke with believed access to primary care was sufficient for their workforce.

For many, the traditional primary care model simply is not meeting the needs of employees who need convenient access to affordable care before work, after work, on weekends, or when they become sick unexpectedly.  As a result, employers are increasingly investing in alternative models.

Many have implemented onsite or near-site clinics and are seeing measurable results. Employers reported increases in preventive care utilization, reductions in emergency department visits, decreases in hospital admissions and overall improvements in healthcare spending trends. These outcomes are reinforcing their belief that improving access to affordable everyday care is one of the most effective ways to improve both quality and affordability.

The good news for Urgent Care operators is that employers already understand the value proposition of Urgent Care.  They appreciate that Urgent Care is accessible seven days a week. They recognize that Urgent Care offers a lower-cost alternative to the emergency department for non-emergent conditions. They understand that employees value convenience and speed. And they see Urgent Care as part of the solution to the growing access challenges facing the healthcare system.

What I found most encouraging was that many employer coalitions and self-funded employers are no longer waiting for traditional healthcare stakeholders to solve these problems. They are actively pursuing direct relationships. Across the country, employer coalitions are helping employers contract directly with healthcare service organizations, build high-value networks, develop onsite and near-site clinic strategies and create more accountable care models. Several coalition leaders I met are already working with Urgent Care operators in their markets, and many expressed interest in expanding those relationships.

This represents an important opportunity.  For years, Urgent Care’s growth has been driven by solving a fundamental problem: providing affordable, convenient access to everyday healthcare. That need has not gone away. In fact, the discussions in St. Louis suggest it may be more important than ever.

As employers search for ways to improve access, reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization and better manage healthcare spending, Urgent Care operators should consider how they can become a more strategic partner to employers in their communities. That may include:

The employer community is looking for solutions that improve access and create measurable value. Urgent Care has a compelling story to tell. The conversations in St. Louis reinforced my belief that there is significant opportunity for our field to strengthen its relationships with employers and purchaser coalitions. While Advocacy efforts to improve reimbursement remain important, we should also be exploring new pathways that create value directly for employers and patients.

Urgent Care was built on improving access, convenience and affordability. Those same strengths may position us to play an even larger role in the future of employer-sponsored healthcare.

Steve Sellars

CEO of Urgent Care Association