Five years ago, Walmart Health opened its doors to provide in-person and virtual primary care services. However, after careful consideration, the company has decided to shut down its health division. This closure will affect all 51 of Walmart’s doctor-staffed care centers, though a specific date for the closure has not yet been set.
The decision to close the health division came after Walmart determined that there was no sustainable business model to support its operations. Despite its initial efforts to provide primary care services to underserved communities with limited access to affordable care, the challenges of a reimbursement environment and rising operating costs made the division unprofitable and unsustainable.
Walmart’s decision reflects the difficulties that companies face when trying to provide healthcare in the current landscape. While they strive to bring affordable care to underserved communities, the challenges are too great to overcome. With the closure of Walmart Health, patients will need to find alternative providers for their primary care needs.