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BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart pharmacists will be testing and treating people for common illnesses under a new “Testing and Treatment” program being rolled out in a dozen states, the company said.
The program lets pharmacists treat customers for flu, COVID-19, strep throat and other conditions and then offer in-store treatment options.
“At Walmart, we think it comes down to empowering our pharmacists and increasing access to health care,” according to Kevin Host, senior vice president, Walmart health, wellness and pharmacy. “When pharmacists are able to practice at the top of their clinical abilities, they’re able to do more for their communities, too. And when those communities have convenient access to care, they live better, healthier lives.”
Walmart said people can walk in to the pharmacies for testing or schedule an appointment using the Walmart app. Test results should be available in about 15 minutes, Walmart said. The cost for the test and treatment service is $133 in cash, and Walmart said it is not accepting third-party insurance payments for the program.
Walmart is launching the program in its home state of Arkansas as well as in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.
Host noted that Walmart began expanding the pharmacist role prior to the pandemic. The company introduced Walmart Health clinics in remodeled Supercenters in 2019 to seek opportunity in a health care sector that accounts for roughly 20% of the U.S. economy. The clinics offer primary and urgent care, labs, x-rays and mental health counseling as well as dental, optical, and hearing services.
“Testing and Treatment goes beyond the services many others can offer, epitomizing convenience by testing customers and then providing treatments in the same store,” Host said. “A flu test may lead to a prescription for Tamiflu, or a sore throat could be calmed by tea and chicken noodle soup. Either way, it’s only aisles away. Our pharmacies are ready to be more than your second or third stop on the path to getting better – they can be your only stop.”
Added Host, “If we learned anything in 2020 and the years that followed, it’s that testing and detection of curable illnesses can help save lives and bolster community health. And with flu season on the horizon and COVID-19 cases forever fluctuating, we believe Testing and Treatment could hardly come at a better time.”
