‘Pop-up’ screening clinics

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin recently alerted Arkansans about unregistered businesses and unlicensed health care providers conducting “pop-up” medical screening clinics for student-athletes.

“The health of our children is a priority for parents and schools. Unfortunately, some businesses prey upon the concerns of parents and the goodwill of schools by offering ‘pop-up’ medical screening clinics performed by unlicensed health care providers in order to provide a false sense of security that they are working in the best interests of children,” Griffin said in a news release.

Griffin said parents should be aware of the following claims made by these fraudsters:

• Claims to look for routine injuries or preexisting cardiac conditions that may pose a risk to some student-athletes.

• Promises to parents — which are likely untrue and possibly illegal — that parents will not have any out-of-pocket costs.

Griffin recommends the following tips to parents and schools to protect themselves from falling prey to illegitimate businesses promoting or conducting “pop-up” medical screening clinics:

• Coordinate with local doctors and hospitals to conduct screenings.

• Ask any company offering to conduct screenings for proof they are registered to do business in Arkansas.

• Ask any health care provider conducting a screening if they are licensed in the state of Arkansas.

• Do not provide any insurance information to an unregistered business or unlicensed health care provider.

Parents or schools that wish to report concerns about the subject of this Consumer Alert or desire more information should contact the attorney general’s office by calling 800-482-8982, or online at http://www.arkansasag.gov.