Kroger has launched a new care program for seniors following the closure of Walmart Health centers nationwide.
The program, operated through The Little Clinic LLC, will be available in at least eight locations, making it easier for customers to access these services.
New Health Clinics Open in Atlanta Kroger Stores
According to a recent press release, senior shoppers in Atlanta, Georgia, will now have access to new health clinics located within local Kroger stores.
Kroger Health has partnered with Better Health Group, a leading primary care provider, to launch this initiative through The Little Clinic. This collaboration aims to enhance healthcare access for seniors by offering comprehensive, senior-focused primary care designed to improve health outcomes and the overall patient experience.
The initiative will allow patients to have extended face-to-face visits with primary care providers at any of the eight clinics in Kroger stores. These visits will cover a range of services, including annual wellness checkups, disease management, preventative care, and other personalized care plans tailored to individual needs.
The U.S. Sun reports that seniors will benefit from Kroger Health services, such as comprehensive medication reviews and nutritional counseling. The initiative focuses mainly on those with Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare, aiming to provide them with better access to quality healthcare.
Kroger is dedicated to creating a more personalized healthcare experience. James Kirby, the Chief Commercial Officer at Kroger Health, highlighted the company's focus on addressing the unique healthcare needs of seniors.
"Providing a convenient, expertly managed location for senior care is our top priority," Kirby explained. "We are excited to deliver well-coordinated, senior-specific primary care in the greater Atlanta area, particularly in areas that lack sufficient medical services."
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Walmart Health Closures Impact Access to Care
Walmart has announced it will close all 51 health centers in five states and end its virtual health care service, deeming it "not a sustainable business model," reports USA Today.
This reversal comes shortly after the retailer planned to expand its 24/7 virtual healthcare services and physical centers, which primary care physicians and licensed nurse practitioners staffed.
The decision reflects broader economic difficulties in the healthcare industry, such as low government reimbursements, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and rising medical supplies and labor costs.
The closures will particularly affect rural and underserved areas, where Walmart's health centers provide easily accessible healthcare. "People will have to go back to driving to a big city. Going to the doctor will take an entire day. We're going backward," said Hal Andrews, CEO of healthcare consulting firm Trilliant Health.
In 2019, Walmart entered the primary care market to provide close and easy access to essential health services, leveraging that 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store.
However, the retailer found that the economics of providing affordable care were not sustainable, even for a company accustomed to profiting from low-margin businesses like groceries. "Primary care margins are small, similar to grocery margins," noted Andrews.
Walmart cited "the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs" as key factors in its decision to shutter the health centers.
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