Walmart, UnitedHealth enter 10-year healthcare tie-up

Walmart will begin deploying data analytics and decision support tools from UnitedHealth-subsidiary Optum at its omnichannel healthcare centres next year, as part of a 10-year partnership between the two companies. The tools will help physicians at Walmart Health centres “deliver comprehensive value-based care that can help drive positive health outcomes for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries.”  

On the other hand, UnitedHealth will have access to Walmart's broad reach in retail to potentially boost enrollment to it health insurance plans. 

The collaboration will start January 2023 with 15 Walmart Health centres in Florida and Georgia, then expand into new geographies over time. There are currently 27 Walmart Health in-person facilities in the US, and there is also an online, virtual care service. 

The partnership will include offering a co-branded Medicare Advantage plan in Georgia, called the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Walmart Flex (HMO-POS). UnitedHealth will also make available to members of its Choice Plus PPO plan access to Walmart Health Virtual Care. 

The companies said they aim to broaden its reach to include those across commercial and Medicaid plans, by providing access to fresh food and enhancing current initiatives to address social determinants of health, over-the-counter and prescription medications, and dental and vision services.

Walmart CEO Dough McMillon remarked that the partnership is part of the retail giant’s ongoing “journey to transform health care, connecting more people to the right care at the right time — at a cost that makes sense.”

For related analysis, see Wider View: Walmart, UnitedHealth, CVS…giants limber up for health land grab