Freestanding ERs are now enrolled and ready to help Medicare Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic

AUSTIN, TX – After gaining federal recognition from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) back in April, Texas freestanding emergency centers (FECs) are now caring for Medicare -insured patients during this public health emergency.

“At a time when elderly Texans are foregoing emergency care at hospitals out of fear of the Covid19 virus, shorter wait times in smaller, high-quality Freestanding ER facilities is tremendously valuable to patients,” said Dr. Lonnie Schwirtlich, Physicians Premier Chief Medical Officer and President of TAFEC. “We want Medicare patients in Texas to know that freestanding ERs are now able and eager to serve them in an emergency and that they should not delay treatment when they need it.”

“Giving Medicare patients access to freestanding ERs in an emergency is going to save lives and we are so thankful to lawmakers like Representative Jodey Arrington and Senator Ted Cruz for advocating that FECs be allowed to provide emergency care for everyone in our communities, not just privately-insured Texans, during this pandemic when our services are needed most,” said Brad Shields, Executive Director for the Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (TAFEC). “We hope FECs’ eligibility to serve elderly and vulnerable Medicare and Medicaid patients goes beyond the current health crisis and becomes a permanent emergency care solution.”

The FEC community has advocated for the ability to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients for more than a decade. While this recent action by CMS is limited to the current public health emergency, TAFEC and the National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (NAFEC) will maintain its advocacy for Medicare and Medicaid patients to have permanent access to FECs. Lasting CMS recognition equips FECs with a greater ability to expand into rural and underserved communities where healthcare infrastructure is growing more and more scarce, and patients may have few options and long drives to the nearest medical facility.

Texas has more than 200 FECs across the state.