Pennsylvania Health Law Lawyer & Attorney : Fox Rothschild LLP : serving Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Upper Darby Twp

According to a Walmart spokesperson, Walmart foresees opening more than 6,000 in-store medical clinics over the next five (5) years.  Walmart already has 75 clinics in 12 states and envisions that the clinics could serve as the basis for a national electronic medical record platform.  The clinics, which will likely accept walk-in patients and have extended hours, will almost certainly present a new and unique challange to existing primary care practices in Walmart's markets. 

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According to a March 28, 2006 Press Release, the boards of directors of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) have agreed to merge. The new company will continue to have dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and is expected to generate more than $1 billion in savings over a six year period, but whether providers or benficiaries will see any part of those savings is unknown.  Of course, if the merger goes through, the administrative difficulties that physicians now face in dealing with either Highmark or IBC are likely to get considerably worse before they get better.    

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