Amazon has recently expanded its benefits for Prime members by providing access to online services and visits at hundreds of One Medical clinics nationwide. This move comes after Walmart announced plans to close its health clinics at 51 retail stores in five states due to a challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs. The decision marks a shift in strategy for the retailer, who had previously planned to double the number of clinics at its retail stores.
Walmart first opened its clinics in Georgia in 2019 and later expanded to Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, and Texas. The clinics offered a range of health services from primary care to behavioral health, labs, and X-rays, as well as virtual care through its website. However, changes in reimbursement information led the company to shut down the clinics. Despite closing the health clinics, Walmart will continue to operate pharmacies in approximately 4,600 stores, particularly in areas with limited medical providers. The company views its pharmacies as a crucial entry point to healthcare services.
Meanwhile, Walgreens recently announced the closure of 160 Village MD clinics due to financial losses. Despite these closures, many other retailers are expanding their healthcare offerings. For example, Target has launched an initiative called Target Health that provides discounts on prescription medications and health screenings for customers with certain medical conditions. Overall, it seems that retailers are becoming more involved in providing healthcare services for their customers.