After five years of providing in-person and virtual primary care services, Walmart Health is shutting down. The decision to close the health division came after Walmart determined that there was no sustainable business model to support its operations. This closure will affect all 51 of Walmart’s doctor-staffed care centers, though a specific date for the closure has not been set yet.
Currently, the in-person locations in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas are still open as Walmart works to transition patients to other providers. The Walmart Health spinoff was initially established to provide primary care services to underserved communities with limited access to affordable care. However, a challenging reimbursement environment and rising operating costs ultimately made the division unprofitable and unsustainable.
Walmart’s decision to close its health division reflects the difficulties that companies face while trying to provide healthcare in the current landscape. Despite their efforts to bring affordable care to underserved communities, the challenges were too great to overcome. With the closure of Walmart Health, patients will need to find alternative providers for their primary care needs.