Walmart has announced that it will close 51 of its health clinics located in five states due to the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs. This decision comes after the retailer recently doubled the number of clinics at its retail stores, indicating a shift in strategy for the company. While the exact timeline for the closures has not been provided, 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.
On the other hand, Amazon has expanded benefits for Prime members by 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 its health clinics, Walmart will continue to operate pharmacies in approximately 4,600 stores across many areas with limited medical providers. The company views its pharmacies as a crucial entry point to healthcare services for customers who may not have easy access otherwise.