Walmart opens clinical healthcare research to customers
Walmart is launching the Walmart Healthcare Research Institute (WHRI) to increase community access to healthcare resources.
WHRI will concentrate its efforts on interventions and medications that can help underrepresented communities including older adults, rural residents, women, and minority populations. The institute is initially focused on inclusion in studies on treatments for chronic conditions and treatments for customers from these communities.
According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data cited by Walmart, in 2020, 75% of healthcare trial participants were white, 11% were Hispanic, 8% were Black, and 6% were Asian. Walmart says it is focused on studies that can have a health equity impact in the communities it serves and represent all populations. With 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart, the retailer will meet customers and patients where they live and work.
Walmart is working with study partners including clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical companies and academic medical centers, including CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services and Laina Enterprises. According to Walmart, WHRI walmarthealthcareresearchinstitute.com is already demonstrating a referral rate three times the industry benchmark.
Walmart is also rolling out MyHealthJourney, a digital tool that provides users with access to their eligible medical records and insurance information online in one place. MyHealthJourney also sends customers receive reminders for healthcare services and research opportunities.
“At Walmart, we want to help ensure all our customers have access to high quality, affordable and convenient healthcare resources, including innovative research,” said Dr. John Wigneswaran, Walmart chief medical officer, in a corporate blog post announcing WHRI. “We know our customers are interested in participating in healthcare research, but many have not had access until now. We are already making an impact for our customers and for medical research, by raising patient trust and engagement in their care.”
Walmart’s community healthcare initiatives also include Walmart Health, a freestanding healthcare concept. The first Walmart Health center opened in Dallas, Ga., in 2019. To date, the company has opened at least 25 centers across Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and Illinois.
Located adjacent to Walmart Supercenters, the Walmart Health centers provide a range of services, including primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, behavioral health and counseling, dental, optical, hearing and more. The centers are operated by qualified medical professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health providers and optometrists.
And in September 2022, Walmart and health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, the biggest provider of Medicare Advantage coverage, entered into a 10-year collaboration designed to offer seniors high-quality, affordable health services that improve health outcomes and the patient experience. The collaboration will start in 2023 with 15 Walmart Health locations in Florida and Georgia and expand into new areas over time.
[Read more: Walmart partners with UnitedHealth Group on health care for seniors]
Beginning in January 2023, UnitedHealth and Walmart will operate a co-branded Medicare Advantage plan in Georgia, called UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Walmart Flex. Also in January, Walmart’s virtual healthcare offering (Walmart Health Virtual Care) will be in-network for commercial members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plus PPO plan. The option will give the approximate 20 million members access to Walmart virtual care.