Walmart has recently announced the closure of all 51 of its Walmart Health centers across five states and its Walmart Health Virtual Care telehealth offering. The company cited challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs as the reasons for the unsustainability of these operations, despite their initial aim to provide low-cost comprehensive care and gain experience in the healthcare sector.
Despite the closure of these health centers and telehealth offering, Walmart remains committed to providing other health and wellness services through its 4,600 Pharmacies and 3,000 Vision Centers. The company emphasized its focus on innovation and growth in its core businesses, citing the launch of the Walmart Healthcare Research Institute and new health programs to support customer wellbeing.
This decision marks a reversal from Walmart’s previous announcement about expanding its health centers in Texas, indicating a shift in strategy regarding its healthcare offerings. The retailer initially launched its first Walmart Health center in 2019 with the goal of providing affordable comprehensive care and gaining valuable experience for future operations in the healthcare sector.
The closure of Walmart’s telehealth offering comes shortly after UnitedHealth Group announced the shutdown of its Optum Virtual Care business. These developments highlight the challenges within the healthcare industry and the need for sustainable business models to navigate these complexities.
