A relatively new local urgent care practice is already expanding — a little earlier than anticipated. Drakos is opening a second location in Cicero next week. Unlike its Liverpool pediatric clinic, which opened last year, the new location is for all ages.
Both practices accept Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield CNY insurance, just as WellNow Urgent Care clinics have stopped doing so. Drakos CEO Heather Drake Bianchi says that’s not why they’re expanding. But she says it did push them to open sooner, to meet the public’s needs.
"This was actually not in response to the WellNow thing—it just serendipitously happened that way," Bianchi said. "And then the pressure open became more so. That’s why we’re opening doors on Monday because the community is reaching out."
Along with expanding into adult care, Drakos also offers ADHD screenings and a mobile X-ray unit for patients with disabilities or special needs.
The new clinic opens in Cicero on Monday, February 5th at 5586 Legionnaire Drive. That's off Route 31 across from the post office.
Meanwhile, there is no word of progress toward an agreement between Excellus BCBS of CNY and WellNow. The large Chicago-based urgent care chain stopped accepting Excellus January 1, which means members must pay much higher out-of-network rates to receive care. The two are in a stalemate over reimbursement rates.
