In a recent announcement, Walmart has revealed plans to shut down its health clinics at 51 retail stores across five states. This decision comes after the company had initially planned to double the number of clinics at its retail locations. According to sources, the closures will occur within the next 45 to 90 days. The reason for this move is attributed to a challenging reimbursement environment and rising operating costs.
The health clinics, which first opened in Georgia in 2019 and later expanded to other states, offered a range of health services such as primary care, behavioral health, labs, and X-rays. In addition, patients could access virtual care through Walmart’s website. However, changes in reimbursement information have led the company to shut down these clinics.
On the other hand, Amazon has taken a different approach by expanding benefits for Prime members, providing access to online services and visits at hundreds of One Medical clinics nationwide. Meanwhile, Walgreens recently announced the closure of 160 Village MD clinics due to financial losses. Despite closing its health clinics, Walmart will continue to operate pharmacies in approximately 4,600 stores across the country. The company views its pharmacies as a crucial entry point into healthcare services for customers with limited medical providers in their areas.
