Study: Retail clinics increase medical spending

Although they have been touted as a convenient and low-cost option for medical treatment, retail clinics may actually lead to increased medical spending. In a study published in Health Affairs, researchers estimated that each patient who visits retail clinics increases medical spending by $14.

The researchers examined insurance claims from 2010-2012 and identified 500,000 people who visited retail clinics for one of 11 conditions, including allergies, ear infections, and influenza. The researchers found that 42% of those patients visited retail clinic instead of visiting a physician, urgent care center or emergency room. However, 58% of visits were new utilizations, meaning they would have otherwise stayed home. This led to a 21% increase in spending for minor conditions.

Source: The Boston Globe