Local News: December 20, 2023

- WellNow Urgent Care will stop accepting Excellus on January 1 -

WellNow urgent care centers will stop accepting Excellus BlueCross BlueShield insurance starting January 1. WRVO reports that a disagreement over reimbursement rates could affect hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Excellus users would have to pay out-of-network fees if an agreement isn’t reached before the end of the year. The urgent care provider has over sixty locations across New York including in Ithaca, Cortland, and Elmira. The companies say they are still in negotiations. WellNow says they will care for out-of-network patients after January 1.

- Broome County jail to get $250,000 from medical provider for overbilling -

The Broome County jail will get a $250,000 refund from its medical services provider. WBNG TV reports an audit by the sheriff’s department found that PrimeCare Medical billed the county for hours that were not worked. The company got the contract in January after the new sheriff, Fred Akshar took office. Akshar is a Republican former state Assemblymember. The jail has faced criticism from healthcare workers, inmates, their families, and activists for failing to provide adequate care for over ten years. Between 2011 and 2020 at least 10  people died in custody at the jail under the previous sheriff.  

- Endicott gets $286,000 to complete sewer system upgrades -

The Village of Endicott is getting $286,000 for water infrastructure upgrades. The village will use the money to finish improvements to its sewer system. The mayor says the system also serves part of the Endicott in the towns of Union and Endwell.  The funding is part of $450 million from state water infrastructure programs.