Walmart to expand standalone health concept to Florida, Illinois

Walmart is bringing its health care concept to the Sunshine State in 2021. It's also expanding in other areas.

Walmart Health will make its Florida debut in Jacksonville, with details on other locations in the state to be available soon.  The Jacksonville clinic will build on the features and services of existing locations (with three in Georgia and one in Arkansas) as well as future locations in Illinois. (Walmart offered no additional details on the Illinois location.) The format debuted last September, in Dallas, Georgia. 

 In addition, Walmart is planning to open at least six additional Walmart Health clinics in the greater Atlanta area by the end of 2020, reported CNBC.

Walmart Health promises low, transparent pricing for key healthcare services, regardless of insurance status. It offers full-service primary and urgent care, labs, x-ray and diagnostics, counseling, dental, optical and hearing services all in one central facility. 

Additional services include specialized community health resources, online education and in-center workshops to educate the community about preventive health and wellness.

“Walmart is on a mission to bring affordable, accessible healthcare to the communities we serve," Sean Slovenski, senior VP of Walmart health and wellness said. "Today, we’re proud to announce that families in Florida will soon have access to this care when we expand Walmart Health into the state next year. Walmart Health offers low, transparent pricing for key healthcare services, regardless of insurance status. This is especially important for communities that lack access to affordable healthcare, which we know is an unfortunate reality for so many right now."

Slovenski notes that the COVID-19 pandemic, the accompanying recession and the subsequent loss of employer-provided health insurance for laid-off workers has underscored the vulnerabilities of the nation's healthcare system. 

“We recognize we can make an impact by increasing access to quality, affordable and convenient healthcare as we invest millions of dollars and expand Walmart Health into Florida, which is home to the second-highest number of Walmart stores in the country," he said.