Councilors Flynn + Murphy will hold a Hearing to Discuss the Impact of For-Profit Urgent Care Centers on Nonprofit Community Health Centers on Thursday

BOSTON – In January, Councilor Flynn and Councilor Murphy filed a hearing order to discuss the impact of for-profit urgent care centers on non-profit Community Health Centers. The hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, March 7 at 2pm at the Iannella Chamber in Boston City Hall.

Over the last few years, the City of Boston has seen an increase in the number of urgent care centers, where they offer walk-in services for patients with non-emergency medical issues. While residents can decide where they choose to receive health care services, for-profit urgent care centers that are placed in close proximity to community health centers can have the potential to undermine the health centers’ patient base and put the financial viability of these invaluable institutions at risk.

A proposal for a for-profit urgent care center on West Broadway, a block away from the South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC), was recently withdrawn after receiving fierce community opposition. The proposal had received a letter of support by the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) at the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA). The for-profit urgent care posed serious concerns for the financial stability and operations of the Health Center, which has been providing critical and professional health care services to the neighborhood for 50 years, and services 70,000 visits annually that include families, seniors, persons with disabilities, immigrants, communities of color, and our most vulnerable in public housing.

“For-profit urgent care centers have the potential to pose serious financial implications for our non-profit community health centers – and therefore threaten the public health of a community – when placed in close proximity to each other. Many of our neighborhood health centers in the City of Boston have been long-time partners in the community with a track record of delivering world-class healthcare to families and residents,” said Councilor Flynn. “I look forward to hearing from the leaders of our Community Health Centers, the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Planning Development Agency on the important role that our Community Health Centers play in public health, how for-profit urgent care centers can impact them, and how we can best coordinate to continue ensuring the success of our nonprofit health centers.”

Councilor Murphy stated, “I thank Councilor Flynn for allowing me to join him in what is a vital conversation. I look forward to hearing from the Planning and Development Agency on why the plan for a for-profit urgent care center was approved, especially in that context and especially with strenuous opposition on the record. I am thankful the voice of the community was heard, and the project was ultimately withdrawn.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and [email protected].