Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

Harlan Levy. Courtesy photo

By Harlan Levy

Here’s an alarming story that any reader using Hartford HealthCare should note.

Our friend and her husband were babysitting for their two little granddaughters, because their mother was about to have a third baby. She got a call from her 5-year-old daughter’s school that she had a fever and had to be picked up.

She asked the grandparents to pick the child up and bring her to Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care, because her mother had called their pediatrician and found that she had no appointments for the rest of the day. So the grandparents picked up the girl and drove her to Urgent Care. Urgent Care said that grandparents could not bring a grandchild to Urgent Care. They told the woman that the child had a temperature of 102 and had recently had strep throat and that they wanted to see if she still had strep. They also said that their daughter was nine months pregnant due any minute and is getting an infusion right now and cannot come. Regardless, they refused to take her.

The daughter then called the pediatrician, who said she’d see her later today. The girl did indeed still have strep and needed an antibiotic. They called Hartford HealthCare the next day and found that the policy existed even in an emergency.

This could have been terrible if the pediatrician was unavailable.

So is that really the policy? I checked with Hartford HealthCare and found that Hartford HealthCare does not prohibit grandparents from bringing sick children to their urgent care centers, but they do require legal proof of guardianship or a signed, written consent form from a parent before they can treat the child for non-emergency issues.

For a smooth visit, be prepared with the following documentation:

• Informed Consent/Authorization to Treat: The simplest workaround is a signed, physical letter or a formalized Medical Power of Attorney from a parent. This authorizes the grandparent to make medical decisions on the child’s behalf and sign off on treatments.
• Patient Information: The child’s current health insurance card.
• Health History: Details on the child’s allergies, past or ongoing medical conditions, current medications, and the name of their pediatrician.
• Parent contact info: Telephone numbers where the legal guardians or parents can be reached directly by the Hartford HealthCare clinician during the visit.

There are exceptions for true emergencies: If the child is experiencing a true medical emergency, the Urgent Care clinic or emergency department clinicians can and will provide life-saving or stabilizing medical treatment without waiting for parental consent.

A Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care site like this one at Bishops Corner refused grandparents’ effort to treat their 5-year-old granddaughter, who had a temperature and strep throat. If it was an emergency it should have treated her. Photo credit: Harlan Levy

New flu pills

On June 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic of Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) tablets, the first single-dose treatment for acute uncomplicated influenza and prophylaxis in patients 5 years of age and older. It was approved in time for the 2026–2027 flu season.

Generic baloxavir marboxil tablets may be used for:

• Treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in patients 5 years old and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours, and who are otherwise healthy or at high risk of developing influenza-related complications; and
• Post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza in patients 5 years old and older following contact with an individual who has influenza.

Baloxavir marboxil tablets are contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity reactions to baloxavir marboxil or any of its ingredients. Baloxavir marboxil carries warnings such as increased incidence of treatment-emergent resistance in patients less than 5 years of age.

The most common side effects include diarrhea, bronchitis, nausea, sinusitis, and headaches. Health care providers should review the full prescribing information for complete safety and dosing information.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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