Walmart to test new health services for workers
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon at his shareholder meeting and working in America.
Walmart launches a pilot program to help its employees with health care needs.
Walmart will help employees connect with local doctors in areas such as primary care, cardiology and obstetrics.
The data analysis company Embold Health, will need large amounts of data from public and private insurance plans to come up with recommended suppliers based on efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Walmart, in turn, will use this data to compile a list of employees.
The program will cover U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club workers in Orlando and Tampa Florida, the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area and northwest Arkansas from January 1[ads1].
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The goal is for the services to eventually be available to 1 million Walmart and Sam's Club employees and family members in the company's health insurance program. The reseller also plans to share its practice with other companies.
The disadvantage of the program is that employees will be confronted with fewer physician choices. Walmart says workers can use doctors who are not on the company's curated list, but it will cost more.
Walmart executives say they hope to remove a meaningful portion of unnecessary health care for the company and its employees.
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It may mean offering coverage that directs patients away from expensive hospitals for routine examinations or pushes them toward doctors who are considered higher quality.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
