WellMed office closing, patients told they are being dropped

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — There are two signs on the front door of the WellMed office on Sheldon Road.

One of the signs reads the office will be closed on July 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The other sign informs patients that effective August 19, they’ll be moving the clinic to Optum-Sheldon, about 10 minutes away.

Patients Wednesday were left scrambling to find other options.

“I think now we’re all on this boat of ‘Where do we go?’ and ‘Who’s reputable?’ and, ‘How far do I have to drive to see this doctor?'” Kavita May said.

May has been treated at this office for 20 years.

“It’s been such a great family feel such a great office so friendly, so accommodating. I’ve never had a bad experience there,” May said.

While checking into her appointment, she learned not only about the closing but was told she would be dropped.

“She looked at my card, and she said, ‘You know, as of August 15, we won’t be taking your insurance anymore,’ and I said, ‘Oh’. She said, ‘Oh, we’re not taking any of the commercial insurance,'” May said.

May and other patients have a lot to say about why they think this is happening.

“I mean, if it’s not about money, I don’t know what it is,” May said.

For 15 years Dianne Lehmann has been coming to the same Wellmed.

“I stayed there because they took Medicare. And I liked the doctor that I’m seeing,” she said.

Lehmann was told her doctor is moving to the Optum location, and she can follow them there, but her daughter, who has Blue Cross Blue Shield for insurance, can’t.

“She’s special needs in one way or another, but not just disabled,” Lehmann said. “And it’s been hard to find her insurance and I have really hated, you know, they won’t even take cash at the new location, you have to have Medicare or Medicaid.”

Lehmann said her daughter does not qualify for Medicare with her disability. The office did refill her prescription, but Lehmann asked what happens if there’s an emergency. Now she’s on the hunt for other options.

“Everybody’s saying we’re not taking new patients. And I think it has to do with WellMed. I think by them turning away. So I’m out of luck right now,” Lehmann said. “She has to have a doctor. She was a preemie has health issues, and I can’t give up.”

WellMed sent 8 On Your Side the following statement:

“WellMed regularly reviews products, services, staffing requirements and real estate needs to ensure they align with the needs of our customers in the broader Tampa community where we operate more than 20 clinics. We are merging our two Sheldon Road clinics and look forward to patients accessing care at 5537 Sheldon Road clinic or our other Tampa community locations.”

The notice to patients of Wellmed Sheldon also said patients don’t have to worry about transferring medical records, and that it will automatically move to the new clinic. They said if this location isn’t convenient for you, they will give customers a copy of the medical records or transfer them to a new location.

8 On Your Side is waiting on WellMed to confirm what patients are saying about the insurance.

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