Look to retail clinics as a way to meet the potential growing patient loads from full implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
That’s the advice from consulting firm Accenture, which says that by 2015, there may be as many as 2,800 clinics able to log 10.8 million patient visits a year.
"Who will come to the aid of 30-plus million patients with no place to go?" Accenture analysts ask in a new report, "Retail medical clinics: From Foe to Friend?" Under the ACA, demand for primary care services, in particular, is expected to grow. Accenture analysts recommended that doctors consider referring patients to retail clinics for lower acuity care, while treating more complex cases – those with higher reimbursement – in their practices.
The analysts noted that the number of retail clinics grew 5% last year after 2 years of very slow (1%-3%) growth in 2009 and 2010. That slowdown followed robust growth from 2005 to 2008.
"A return to more stellar growth rates may now follow, not least as the perception of retail clinics as rivals switches to something more practical," according to the report.
Accenture said that growing backing for the clinics – and potentially increasing numbers of partnerships with physicians and hospitals – mean that the retail sector may see 25%-30% growth a year between now and 2015.
Last year, the Health and Human Services department announced that it was is teaming with retail clinics to educate Medicare patients on preventive services under Medicare as well as prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Thrifty White, Walmart, and Sam’s Club were included in that partnership.
There have been predictions for big growth before, though. Another market research firm – Kalorama – predicted 20-30% a year growth back in 2009. Instead, the sector massively contracted, beginning that year.
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