Blue Cross to cover La Paz urgent care

La Paz Regional Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona have signed a three year contractual agreement which includes, for the first time, urgent care services. “We have been a Blue Cross provider for years,” said James Ehasz, hospital CFO, “and effective December 1, urgent care is included in our contract.”

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona network is used by County employees, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Blue Water Casino, the Town of Parker and the Parker School district, along with other organizations. “This change will allow La Paz residents with Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage to stay in La Paz County for urgent care services, for faster treatment and the same savings as at any other urgent care,” added Ehasz.

Located at the hospital in Parker, urgent care services are available Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During January and February, it will include Saturdays, with urgent care available Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Urgent care is walk-in care for those miner illnesses and injuries that do not require the Emergency Department but do need to be treated before they get worse. This includes ear ache, colds and flu, simple bladder infections, STD testing, tetanus shots, antibiotic needs, school physicals, cuts and wound repair, and routine asthma care.

Urgent care differs from a typical primary care physician’s office in that it has procedure rooms for stitching lacerations and splinting sprains and strains, a radiology department for digital imaging, and a full service laboratory for quick strep tests, pregnancy tests, tetenus shots, cholesterol tests and other blood work.