Walmart has announced plans to shut down its health clinics at 51 retail stores in five states due to a challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs. This decision comes after the retailer recently doubled the number of clinics it had planned to open, indicating a shift in strategy for the company. The exact timeline for the closures has not been provided, but sources suggest they will occur within the next 45 to 90 days.
The clinics, which first opened in Georgia in 2019 and later expanded to Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, and Texas, offered a range of health services from primary care to behavioral health, labs, and X-rays. In addition to physical locations, Walmart also provided virtual care through its website. However, changes in reimbursement information led to the decision to shut them down.
In contrast to Walmart’s decision, Amazon has expanded benefits for Prime members, providing access to online services and visits at hundreds of One Medical clinics nationwide. Similarly, Walgreens recently announced the closure of 160 Village MD clinics due to financial losses. Despite closing the 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 to healthcare services.
