Could Walmart be where you go for health care?

Until Congress steps in to regulate our health care system effectively, it appears that corporations are going to take advantage of the great potential revenue in the health care sector, even if they have little experience delivering care. Last year, Walmart opened a health superstore in Dallas, Georgia, strange as that might seem. Now, Health Care Dive reports that Walmart is planning to open Walmart Health superstores around the country.

Walmart is investing millions to deliver health care. The superstores are expected to provide urgent care, dental care, therapy, and diagnostic services as well as primary care services. Pricing is intended to be affordable and significantly less than what CVS Health charges. But, prices are not set yet, and there is likely to be variability.

Right now, in Georgia, an adult primary care visit is $40. An adult dental checkup is $50. And, an eye appointment is $45. The store charges $1 a minute for therapy services.

Visits to Walmart Health in Georgia are for primary care about half the time and specialty care the other half. People who come for primary care often then continue to come for chronic care management.

The value of health superstores to Walmart extends beyond the revenue from delivering health care services. As a result of offering these services, Walmart has found that it fills more prescriptions and gets additional sales.

At the moment, there are six Walmart Health venues. There are five in Georgia. And, there is one in Arkansas. Before the year is out, there will be seven more Walmart Health locations in Georgia and two in the Chicago metropolitan area.

In the first months of 2021, Jacksonville, Florida will see seven Walmart Health superstores. And, Walmart Health superstores will sprout up soon in Orlando and Tampa. Next up for Walmart, health insurance policies.

Meanwhile, CVS and Walgreens are also hoping to provide more health care services and build their patient base. CVS plans to grow from 275 HealthHUBs to 1,775 HealthHUBs by the end of 2021. It also has 1,100 walk-in MinuteClinics. Walgreens is putting $1 billion towards installing doctor’s offices in 500-700 retail stores over the next five years. These stores will have doctors on hand to provide patients primary care.

Here’s more from Just Care:

• Facebook, Uber and Walmart, among others, expand further into health care
• Programs that lower your costs if you have Medicare
• Congress must protect our community health centers
• With drug prices soaring, millions buy drugs abroad
• Medicare for all would help us combat Covid-19