Pasco County Schools announced a partnership with GuideWell Emergency Physicians through Florida Blue that gives district employees a $0 copay for their first two urgent-care visits, a district presenter said.

The partnership, presented during a brief staff update, is designed to reduce employees' out-of-pocket costs for urgent care. "Because it's a $0 co pay for the first 2 visits for urgent care services," the presenter said. "After those first 2 visits, it would be $50 for the premium HMO plan and the PPO plan and $75 for the basic HMO plan."

Dr. Michael Gedicci, a physician with GuideWell Emergency Physicians, described the service network to attendees. "Welcome to GuideWell Emergency Services. Let me tell you about the medical services we can provide for Pasco County School employees," he said. He said GuideWell operates six locations in the Tampa market, is staffed with board-certified emergency medicine physicians and emergency nurses, and provides on-site testing for conditions that otherwise might lead people to an emergency department.

Dr. Gedicci said GuideWell is open seven days a week and accepts appointments and walk-ins. "We're open 7 days a week, especially on the weekends, and we take appointments from 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.," he said. He described typical urgent-care services such as splinting and X-rays for injuries, and said GuideWell's care teams try to arrange follow-up with specialists on patients' plans to limit costs.

The presenter framed the partnership as a cost-saving option for employees when My Health On-site services are not appropriate. "If you can't receive the services you need at My Health On-site, GuideWell is the next best step," the presenter said.

No formal action or vote was recorded during the presentation; the item was introduced as an informational update to employees.