Walmart to close clinics and virtual care services

Walmart announced the closure of its Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care services, citing a lack of profitability and sustainability in the business model. The decision to shut down all 51 health centers across five states was not an easy one, the company stated.

The challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs were identified as key factors contributing to the closure. Walmart does not have a specific date for when each center will close but assured that information would be shared as soon as decisions are made.

Despite the closures, Walmart emphasized its commitment to ensuring continuity of care for patients and providing support to impacted associates during the transition process. Providers will be paid for 90 days through their respective employers, with eligible providers receiving transition payments thereafter.

Moving forward, Walmart plans to leverage its extensive network of pharmacies and vision centers to provide health and wellness services across the country. The company highlighted the growth of its clinical capabilities in pharmacies, offering services such as immunizations, testing, treatment, and specialty pharmacy medication access.

Additionally, Walmart revealed plans to launch the Walmart Healthcare Research Institute and expand its health programs to complement its existing offerings. The company also aims to introduce a premium food line called Bettergoods to compete with other major grocers.

However, Walmart’s share prices fell last week following the announcement of a low-cost grocery delivery program by Amazon. Despite the challenges, Walmart remains focused on evolving its healthcare and wellness services to meet the needs of its customers and communities.