General Questions
What is Urgent Care?
An urgent care practice can complement the services your primary doctor provides, from extended office hours and short wait times to the kinds of medical services that often aren’t available in most primary doctor’s offices (EKG, IV, sutures, x-rays, etc.). While your primary doctor cares for all kinds of preventative and chronic medical issues, urgent care treats the problems facing you today. Also, for the cases where your primary doctor would have to send you to a hospital ER for a non-emergency problem, urgent care can eliminate much of the waiting and expense often encountered in the ER.
Learn more about the benefits of Urgent Care
What information do I need to be seen at Priority 1?
You'll need a valid photo identification and insurance card if you're paying with insurance, or an alternative form of payment for private-pay clients. When you visit, you'll complete some registration information, and then be seen by our staff.
When should I visit an ER instead of urgent care?
ER visits are necessary when someone is suffering from either a life- or limb- threatening medical condition, or if the condition involves severe wounds. If symptoms arise suddenly and you believe that some kind of an emergency exists or that a life is in jeopardy, immediately call 9-1-1. To learn more, visit our UC or ER page.
What are the credentials of the Priority 1 Medical Staff?
All Priority 1 team members are highly trained and qualified, with many having years of experience working in urgent care and emergency settings. With doctors carrying current or prior board certifications in Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, General Surgery, or Family Medicine, you can feel confident that you and your loved ones are in the best of hands while being taken care of at Priority 1 Urgent Care.
Do I need a referral to see a doctor at Priority 1 Urgent Care?
No referral is needed. Our agreements with insurance carriers allow you to be treated in our office without a referral.
Billing and Payment
Which Insurance plans do you accept?
We proudly participate with certain select health insurance plans and continue to enroll or become in-network with several others. At the present time Priority 1 Urgent Care accepts
1199SEIU
Aetna
Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP)
Cigna
Empire Blue Cross/Anthem
Highmark Blue Shield - Northeastern New York (HBS-NENY)
Hooray Health
Humana
MagnaCare
Medicare
Meritain Health
Mohawk Valley Physicians Health Plan (MVP)
New York State Empire Plan (NYSHIP)
Oxford
Railroad Medicare
United Health Care
UMR
WellCare
Check back in often as we continually update this information.
How much will my copay be?
Co-payments vary among insurance plans. To get your specific co-pay information, we'll need to see your insurance card and verify the insurance carrier. We recommend that you call the member services number on the back of your insurance card first to ask about coverage and any co-payment fee questions you may have.
I don’t have my insurance card with me, can I still be seen?
Although it is much preferred that you present a valid insurance card at the time of service, we will see you and bill your insurance if you have a photo ID and your insurance member ID number, or can get that information from your insurance provider. You can also pay the cost of a visit up front and be reimbursed by your insurance company later on.
Do you accept cash and credit cards?
Yes, we accept both. You are also welcome to use a debit card or Medical Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account (HSA) card.
What is the Payment Card on File system?
The Payment Card on File (PCOF) system allows for smoother transactions and visit billing. PCOF is a rapidly growing trend in the healthcare industry, mirroring business practices commonly found in other areas of commerce and industry. With changes in financing caused by the Affordable Care Act, the advent of health insurance exchanges, and significant increases in patient insurance deductibles, health care providers have found it necessary to implement similar policies. The purpose of PCOF is to guarantee payment for services rendered that may not be completely covered by insurance, including services applied to a patient’s deductible.
Signing up for PCOF is simple. When a patient visits, the patient swipes their payment card of choice (Medical Flexible Spending, Debit, or Credit) and signs a prior authorization form giving us permission to keep card information on file. A copy of the signed form is then scanned and saved into the patient’s electronic medical record. The patient’s payment card information is safely held on a secure encrypted gateway site that is completely compliant as required by law. No financial information will be available to our staff, held in our system, or kept at our office. Co-pays will still be collected at each visit and can be paid in any manner the patient chooses at that time.
If the patient has medical insurance contracted with Priority 1, we will submit the claim to insurance on behalf of the patient as usual. Once the claim is submitted to and processed through insurance, and in approximately 2 to 3 weeks following the visit, the patient should receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) notice from their insurer that tells the patient exactly, according to the terms of the patient’s health insurance coverage, how much of the health care bill is covered by insurance and how much the patient owes to the medical practice. Priority 1 will also receive a copy of the same EOB from the insurer that the patient was sent, and determine what the insurance carrier has decided is the patient’s responsibility. Once we receive the copy of the EOB notice, Priority 1 Urgent Care will notify the patient of the outstanding charges via a patient-provided email address or text message. One day after notice is sent to the patient via email or text, the payment card on file is charged and any remaining patient-responsible amount is collected at that time. The patient may request an emailed receipt, or a detailed receipt can be obtained directly from the Priority 1 Billing Office via USPS/conventional mail (the Billing Office can be reached at 1-833-212-4040). Please note, the Priority 1 Urgent Care billing statement, email, or text message, is considered notification of an impending charge against your payment card. If there is no balance due, the payment card is not charged.
If you have any questions about the Payment Card on File policy, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone at (518) 867-8040, or by email at info@priority1urgentcare.com.
What if I have questions about or need to dispute my bill?
We will always work with you to understand if there has been a mistake and we will refund your card if we have made a billing error. We will only charge the amount that we are instructed to by your insurance carrier in the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) they send to us, in the same way that we would normally determine how much to send you a bill for in the mail. If you have any questions about your coverage, please contact your insurer upon receipt of your EOB. If you have questions about your bill, please contact our billing department at 1-833-212-4040, weekdays 9 am to 6 pm.
How can I pay my bill?
For any outstanding payments that are due, feel free to pay over the telephone by contacting our billing department at 1-833-212-4040, weekdays 9 am to 6 pm, or on-line anytime at https://priority1urgentcare.webpay.md. You can also always stop by our Western Avenue location to pay in person, or remit payment via USPS should you prefer.
Services
Does Priority 1 perform On-site laboratory or STD testing?
Yes. We provide a number of on-site (point of care) laboratory tests as directed by our New York State Department of Health Limited Services Laboratory Registration. Additional testing not performed on-site is sent to a local reference laboratory for processing.
See a list of onsite lab testing
Does Priority 1 have X-Ray on site?
Yes, we offer the latest in digital x-ray equipment on-site, staffed by a licensed x-ray technologist or physician.
Does Priority 1 perform Physical Exams?
Yes, we can provide physical exams for work, sports or school including blood work. Always call ahead of time to be sure the provider doing the kind of exam you need is available and to confirm potential associated fees.
Does Priority 1 offer flu shots?
Yes we do, from September through March (subject to vaccine availability) for those age 18 and up, no appointment needed.
Does Priority 1 treat children?
Absolutely! All of our doctors are very experienced in treating children for a variety of medical problems and injuries.
Holiday Schedule Information
Priority 1 Urgent Care is closed on
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Priority 1 Urgent Care is open for limited hours on
July 4th
Christmas Eve
New Years Eve
New Years Day
Be sure to check our website’s home page for the latest scheduling information.
What They Say…
I know you probably don't see this but your receptionist is the bomb and the woman that administered my COVID test was the best! - Susan P.