Healthfirst Welcomes PM Pediatrics Specialized Urgent Care Practices to Our Provider Network

NEW YORK, NY, February 5, 2015 – Healthfirst, a not-for-profit health plan serving more than one million members in New York City and Long Island, announced today the expansion of its provider network for its Child Health Plus, Medicaid Managed Care, and Leaf Plan members, launching a new contract agreement with PM Pediatrics, one of the nation’s largest providers of specialized pediatric urgent care, serving patients from cradle through college.

The agreement enables Healthfirst’s youngest members to receive immediate access to care, 365 days a year, from pediatric emergency specialists for non-life-threatening medical conditions when their primary doctor is unavailable. Urgent care practices provide members with more affordable access to care than a traditional emergency room and with the convenience of a local medical facility that offers faster service and less wait time than a hospital emergency room. PM Pediatrics provides care and treatment for children and young adults (through age 26), with extended hours until midnight, year-round, including holidays. Members will have access to many of the immediate care services available in a traditional emergency room such as: treatment for infections, viruses, dehydration, stiches, fractures and other injuries. Each PM Pediatrics location is equipped with a digital x-ray and lab onsite.

“We are pleased to welcome PM Pediatrics to our expanded network of urgent care providers,” said Susan Beane, MD, Healthfirst VP and Medical Director. “Their inclusion in our network not only provides parents with time and money-saving options for urgent care, it also reinforces our commitment to the highest standard of quality service for our members.”

“We are thrilled that Healthfirst plan members have access to our specialized pediatric urgent care services,” said Dr. Jeffrey Schor, founder of PM Pediatrics. “PM Pediatrics is committed to providing top quality care to children and young adults from pediatric emergency medicine specialists trained specifically to diagnose and treat them. We look forward to welcoming more Healthfirst participants as we continue to expand over the next few years.”

PM Pediatrics has locations in the Healthfirst service areas of Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. For more information on PM Pediatrics, please visit www.pmpediatrics.com. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit www.healthfirst.org.

About Healthfirst
Healthfirst is a not-for-profit health plan serving more than one million members in downstate New York. Created in 1993 by a consortium of the region’s health systems, Healthfirst’s operating model strives to achieve quality outcomes and member satisfaction through collaboration with its extensive provider network and community organizations.

Healthfirst offers a comprehensive selection of free and low-cost health insurance options for individuals and families at every stage of life, including government-sponsored health plans such as Child Health Plus, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicare Advantage, and Managed Long Term Care, as well as commercial plans such as Healthfirst Leaf Plans. We treat our members with the same care and attention we give our own families.

For more information on Healthfirst, visit www.healthfirst.org.

About PM Pediatrics
Established in 2005, PM Pediatrics (www.pmpediatrics.com) is a specialized urgent care practice staffed by Pediatric Emergency Specialists trained in treating newborn through college-age patients, in urgent situations while minimizing pain and unnecessary tests. PM Pediatrics was founded on the belief that there is a better way to deliver urgent care to kids and young adults. With locations in New York and New Jersey, the company’s mission is to ensure that patients receive superior quality healthcare when they need it, featuring short wait times and convenient hours on weekdays, weekends and holidays. PM Pediatrics accepts most insurances and is open 365 days a year. PM Pediatrics has garnered such honors as making Inc. magazine’s 500|5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies (2011-2014), Crain’s New York Business’s “Fast 50” listing of the top private and publicly-held companies (2013), and Modern Healthcare’s national “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” (2011-2013).