§ 51O — Licensing of urgent care centers

[ Text of section added by 2024, 343, Sec. 68 effective April 8, 2025.]Section 51O. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:"Emergency services'', as defined in section 1 of chapter 6D."Urgent care center'', a clinic owned or operated by an entity that is not corporately affiliated with a hospital licensed under section 51, however organized, whether conducted for profit or not for profit, that is advertised, announced, established or maintained for the purpose of providing urgent care services in an office or a group of offices, or any portion thereof, or an entity that is advertised, announced, established or maintained under a name that includes the words "urgent care'' or that suggests that urgent care services are provided therein; provided, however, that an urgent care center shall not include: (i) a hospital licensed under said section 51 or operated by the federal government or by the commonwealth; (ii) a clinic licensed under said section 51; (iii) a limited service clinic licensed under section 51J; or (iv) a community health center receiving a grant under 42 U.S.C. 254b."Urgent care services'', a model of episodic care for the diagnosis, treatment, management or monitoring of acute and chronic disease or injury that is: (i) for the treatment of illness or injury that is immediate in nature but does not require emergency services; (ii) provided on a walk-in basis without a prior appointment; (iii) available to the general public during times of the day, weekends or holidays when primary care provider offices are not customarily open; and (iv) is not intended and should not be used for preventative or routine services.(b) The department shall establish rules, regulations, and practice standards for the licensing of urgent care centers. In determining regulations and practice standards necessary for licensure as an urgent care center, the department may, at its discretion determine which regulations applicable to a clinic licensed under section 51, shall apply to an urgent care center.(c) The department shall issue for a term of 2 years and renew for a like term, a license to maintain an urgent care center to an entity or organization that demonstrates to the department that it is responsible and suitable to maintain such an urgent care center. In the case of the transfer of ownership of an urgent care center, the application of the new owner for a license, when filed with the department on the date of transfer of ownership, shall have the effect of a license for a period of 3 months.(d) An urgent care center license shall be subject to suspension, revocation or refusal to issue or to renew for cause if, in its reasonable discretion, the department determines that the issuance of such license would be inconsistent with or opposed to the best interests of the public health, welfare or safety. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the department to require a fee, impose a fine, conduct surveys and investigations or to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license issued pursuant to subsection (c).(e) Initial application and renewal fees for the license shall be established pursuant to section 3B of chapter 7.(f) The department may impose a fine of up to $10,000 on a person or entity that advertises, announces, establishes or maintains an urgent care center without a license granted by the department. The department may impose a fine of not more than $10,000 on a licensed urgent care center for violations of this section or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to this section. Each day during which a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. The department may conduct surveys and investigations to enforce compliance with this section.(g) Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule to the contrary, the department may issue a 1-time provisional license to an applicant for an urgent care center if such urgent care center holds: (i) a current accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Urgent Care Association of America or the Joint Commission; or (ii) a current certification for participation in either Medicare or Medicaid. The department may approve such provisional application upon a finding of responsibility and suitability and that the urgent care center meets all other licensure requirements as determined by the department. Such provisional license issued to an urgent care center shall not be extended or renewed.