Walmart planning expansion of 16 clinics in Florida in 2023
Exact services may vary by location, but they'll typically include primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, behavioral health, dental and community health.
Photo: FG Trade/Getty Images
Walmart Health will be expanding its presence in Florida with 16 new health centers, the retailer announced this week; they are expected to be open by the fall of 2023.
The locations will span the metro areas of Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. Dr. David Carmouche, senior vice president, Omnichannel Care Offerings at Walmart, said the expansion was spurred by a population base that's growing at roughly double the rate of the rest of the United States.
Located beside Walmart Supercenters, the new facilities are expected to provide a range of services seven days a week. The exact services may vary by location, but typically will include primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, behavioral health, dental, hearing, select specialty services and community health.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
Walmart Health's first six locations in Florida opened in 2022. The company pointed to what it sees as early success, with the centers cutting down on wait times to the point where they're at about half the U.S. average.
More than 96% of patients reported that they "felt cared for" and nearly half of all appointments are for primary and chronic condition care, said Walmart.
When the new sites open, they'll bring the retailer's total footprint to 22 centers across the state.
As of now, there are three centers slated to open in Jacksonville, one in Ocoee, three in Orlando, one in Winter Garden, one in Kissimmee, one in Pinellas Park, one in St. Petersburg, one in Plant City, one in Zephyrhills, one in Lutz, one in Hudson and one in New Port Richey.
THE LARGER TREND
Earlier this month, Walmart made public its plans to launch its new Healthcare Research Institute (WHRI), saying the goal is to increase community access to healthcare while making strides toward better equity and quality.
It comes amidst a flurry of activity for the retail company, which last month announced a partnership with UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiary Optum – a 10-year collaboration the companies describe as "wide-ranging."
The collaboration will start in 2023 with new Walmart Health locations in Florida and Georgia, and will expand into new geographies over time. Ultimately, the companies expect to serve hundreds of thousands of seniors and Medicare beneficiaries in value-based arrangements through multiple Medicare Advantage plans.
Also in September, Walmart and Amazon joined a chorus of hospitals, provider groups and telehealth organizations in pressing the U.S. Senate to extend telehealth flexibilities, such as removing in-person requirements for virtual behavioral health and increasing access to virtual health in the commercial market.
In the joint letter to Senate leadership, more than 370 organizations said the short-term nature of the temporary policies adds uncertainty into the healthcare system.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
