Walmart Health has opened four clinics so far, including this one in Elm Springs, Arkansas. They offer a combination of primary care, behavioral health, labs and other services. Photo credit: Walmart.
On the heels of opening two new health centers in Arkansas, Walmart announced it will look to Florida next. For the past two years, the retailer has been testing a new model: one that involves a full-sized clinic attached to its stores, with primary care, dental, labs, counseling and other services.
Now it plans to build on that model, starting with the Jacksonville area.
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In a Wednesday blog post, Walmart President of Health and Wellness Sean Slovenski wrote that the Florida clinics would build on its existing services in Georgia and Arkansas.
“We recognize we can make an impact by increasing access to quality, affordable and convenient healthcare as we invest millions of dollars and expand Walmart Health into Florida, which is home to the second highest number of Walmart stores in the country,” he wrote.
The company has not yet disclosed the exact locations and when they will open. A Walmart spokesperson wrote in an email that “planning is in the early stages,” and that the company expects to expand into Florida in the first half of 2021.
One of the most interesting — and potentially disruptive — aspects of the Walmart clinics is their pricing. For self-pay patients, a primary care appointment costs just $40, less than some insurance copays. In communities with several uninsured patients, this could also be a useful resource, with some patients coming in for the first time in years.
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Walmart isn’t the only company looking to primary care as its charts its expansion into healthcare. Walgreens also recently announced plans to open hundreds of primary care clinics attached to its stores through a partnership with VillageMD.
Slovenski also hinted at plans to expand to Illinois in the future, though details were sparse. Walmart’s four existing health centers are in Loganville, Georgia; Calhoun, Georgia; Dallas, Georgia; and Springdale, Arkansas.
