Walmart and UnitedHealth Group closed a 10-year deal to use their complementary resources and expertise to offer people affordable health services with improved outcomes and a renewed patient experience.
The program will launch next year with 15 Walmart Health locations in Florida and Georgia. Optum, a UnitedHealth Group business, will facilitate the process and assist Walmart Health clinicians in using analytics and decision support tools, according to a Wednesday (Sept. 7) press release.
Optum will show clinicians how the support tools can be used to “deliver comprehensive value-based care that can help drive positive health outcomes for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries,” per the release.
See also: Amazon’s $4B Bet on One Medical Escalates Healthcare Fight With Walmart, Rivals
The capabilities that come with UnitedHealth will complement the current offerings at Walmart Health centers, which use a team-based delivery model for care. The collaboration with United Health will help Walmart Health move faster toward transitioning to “value-based care by enabling clinicians to focus on patient outcomes,” according to the release.
“We’re on a journey to transform health care, connecting more people to the right care at the right time — at a cost that makes sense,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in the release. “This collaboration puts the patient at the center of health care by leveraging the strength and complementary skill sets of our two companies to accelerate access to quality care.”
Read more: Walgreens Looks to Healthcare and Digital for Growth
The collaboration will include a co-branded Medicare Advantage plan in Georgia, UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage Walmart Flex (HMO-POS), starting in January 2023. Walmart Health Virtual Care will also be in network for commercial members in UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plus PPO plan in January 2023.
“UnitedHealth Group and Walmart share a deep commitment to high-quality and affordable primary care led services that address all of a patient’s health needs in ways that are convenient for them and improve health outcomes,” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said in the announcement.
For all PYMNTS retail coverage, subscribe to the daily Retail Newsletter.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More