On the outside of many WellNow Urgent Care Centers are the words "Accepts most insurance."
But, as of Jan. 1, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield is no longer in WellNow's provider network.
WellNow and Excellus unable to reach deal ahead of Jan. 1 deadline
"All she wanted was a COVID test, and she said 'You have to go to an emergency room, maybe they'll accept it, but we can't accept it here,'" said Caitlin Dankiw, as she sat outside of a WellNow.
When CNY Central asked about negotiation talks between companies, Excellus BCBS replied, “It was WellNow’s decision to leave our provider network on Jan. 1, 2024. While we’re disappointed by their decision, our focus now is on assisting our members with questions they may have around plan coverage and options for care.”
In another statement, Excellus BCBS is encouraging the people in their network to "know their options."
They give the following tips:
- Make sure you have a primary care provider and understand their after-hours care.
- Know what your options are for telehealth.
- Know where the nearest non-WellNow urgent care is.
- Visits to the ER or hospital should be reserved for serious injuries.
The most convenient among those options is an urgent care other than WellNow. If you live in the city of Syracuse your closest option would be in Central Square.
WellNow and Excellus impasse could put further strain on hospital system in CNY
WellNow says it is a battle to be reimbursed fairly like the company says it is in Western New York.
Excellus hides behind comments like 'We offered a higher reimbursem*nt,' but it is nowhere near what were being recognized for as an urgent care in Buffalo and Western New York. So we just want what they pay us 60 miles down the road," says Dr. Robert Biernbaum, the chief medical officer of WellNow.
He added that out-of-network fees are still cheaper than the emergency room. He says their goal is to serve the underserved and that WellNow takes more insurance than a lot of other urgent cares. They hope that negotiation is still possible.
Excellus has provided this list of what it says are alternatives to WellNow:
Finger Lakes Medical Urgent Care Center
303 Grant Ave., Auburn, NY 13021
Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(315) 258-7100
Urgent Medical Care of Skaneateles
803 W. Genesee Street Rd., Skaneateles, NY 13152
Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
(315) 685-9355
Urgent Care of Auburn
37 W. Garden St. Ste. 105, Auburn, NY 13021
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
(315) 252-0000
Cayuga Orthopedics at Cortland
1122 Commons Ave., Cortland, New York 13045
Monday - Friday: 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(607) 428-8004
Cortland Imaging and Urgent Care
1129 Commons Ave., Cortland, New York 13045
Monday - Sunday: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
(607) 756-7200
SOS Plus
5719 Widewaters Pkwy., Syracuse, NY 13214
Monday - Friday: 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
(315) 509-3056
Syracuse Community Health - Quick Care
819 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
(315) 476-7921
Upstate Community Hospital: Golisano Pediatric Urgent Care
4900 Broad Rd., Syracuse, NY 13215
Monday - Friday: 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
(315) 492-5437
Drakos Pediatric Urgent Care
8100 Oswego Rd. Ste. 120, Liverpool, NY 13090
Monday - Thursday: 2:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.
Friday - Sunday: 12:00 p.m. -11:59 p.m.
(315) 726-3861
Upstate Community Hospital: OrthoNow of Syracuse
6620 Fly Rd. Ste. 100, East Syracuse, NY 13057
Monday - Friday: 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
(315) 464-4472
Upstate Connect Care
Nappi Wellness Institute, 1st Floor
725 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Note: Care for non-emergency medical services only. Please call for an appointment (required).
(315) 464-4842
Oswego Health Urgent Care - Central Square
3045 East Ave., Central Square, NY 13036
Monday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Holiday hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
(315) 668-5212
Pulaski Urgent Care
3858 State Rte. 13, Pulaski, NY 13142
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(315) 298-2273
Oswego Health Urgent Care - Fulton
510 S. 4th St., Fulton, NY 13069
Monday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(315) 592-3500
Ithaca City Harbor Walk-In Care
720 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
(607) 219-4600
Cayuga Immediate and Virtual Care
401 Cayuga Park Ln., Ithaca, NY 14850
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Note: Telehealth available Monday - Sunday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
(607) 319-5900
