If you’ve ever found yourself glued to a suspenseful series, waiting for that big plot twist, then you’ve got a good sense of what things feel like right now in the world of Urgent Care federal advocacy. We’re deep in that limbo. Waiting, watching, refreshing and hoping that CMS will include Urgent Care in the upcoming Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) release.
When exactly? Great question. All we know is that it’s expected sometime in July… hopefully. CMS hasn’t circled a date on the calendar, which only adds to the suspense.
Let’s be honest…this has been no small feat. We’ve spent countless hours meeting, advocating, researching, writing, rewriting and possibly stress-snacking (just me?). The amount of effort that’s gone into this push is monumental. But here’s the most important part: we didn’t do it alone. Every UCA member who picked up the phone, sent a letter, joined a meeting or simply stayed engaged – you’ve been invaluable in getting us to this point. You are the reason we’re even in the conversation.
We are, without a doubt, hopeful. Hopeful that CMS will recognize the critical role Urgent Care plays in today’s healthcare system and move forward with policy change that supports that work. Hopeful for a breakthrough. But even if we don’t see the change we’re hoping for this month, let’s be clear. This is NOT the finish line.
We’re not giving up. We’re not backing down. And we’re definitely not hitting pause. We will keep showing up, speaking out and pushing forward until real, lasting change happens for Urgent Care.
So, as we wait (with bated breath and maybe a snack stash nearby), remember how far we’ve come and how determined we still are to finish what we started.
With gratitude and grit,
UCA Advocacy Manager