Retail giant Walmart has teamed up with Transcarent, a health and care platform, to provide a go-to-market solution for self-insured employers and their families.
The partnership gives Transcarent access to Walmart’s low-cost pharmaceuticals and other services with self-insured employers and their employees for the first time. Employers of all sizes will be able to access Walmart’s size and scale.
Walmart has increasingly stepped into the healthcare space, providing retail and specialty pharmacy services, optical services, national telehealth services, behavioral health, over-the-counter services and Walmart health centers. The retailer also offers prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, a variety of immunizations and COVID-19 drive-thru testing in select locations.
“We are committed to providing care to customers and the communities we serve through an integrated, omnichannel approach that improves engagement, health equity and outcomes,” said Cheryl Pegus, MD, executive vice president of Health & Wellness at Walmart. “Most of America lives within 10 miles of a Walmart, which makes us uniquely positioned to deliver the right care at the right time in the right way.”
Walmart has also worked on lowering the cost for insulin through its recent launch of ReliOn NovoLog vials and FlexPens, which saves customers 58% to 75% off the cash price of branded insulin products, according to the retailer.
“Transcarent’s health and care experience will serve as the on-ramp for self-insured employers and their employees to a 24/7 personalized health and care experience for virtually all of the most common and most challenging needs,” Walmart said in a press release.
Employees and their families can utilize Transcarent’s Health Guides and extended clinical team for health information, care options and cost, plus virtual and in-person care––either through Transcarent digital offerings, Transcarent’s Centers of Excellence or Walmart’s in-community clinics.
The model is different thanks to no up-front or per-employee-per-month (PEPM) fees and Transcarent’s practice of paying health systems up front for surgeries.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."