Without an extra dollar from the city, it will keep open most of the 28 pharmacies that provide free prescriptions to the uninsured, as well as walk-in medical clinics.

Dr. Bellak, who was an early advocate of walk-in psychiatric clinics in hospitals, regularly appeared on television talk shows discussing a variety of psychiatric issues.

These are not walk-in clinics and advance membership is required to access services.

St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport, Conn., for example, operates three walk-in clinics in nearby suburbs.

Alan Sager, an associate professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, said neither walk-in clinics nor fast tracks are the solutions to the nation's health-care problems.

Many people who do not seek a family doctor use the region's many walk-in clinics for regular medical conditions.

Juvenile Law Center originally operated as a walk-in legal clinic for any youth in Philadelphia with a legal problem.

Dr. Michael D. Bishop, an emergency-room physician who owns five walk-in clinics in Indiana, called the planned hearing "just sensationalistic."

Larger communities often have walk-in clinics where people with medical problems that would not be considered serious enough to warrant an emergency department visit can be seen.

In 2007 there was 1 hospital with 17 beds and 2 walk-in clinics.