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John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | May 14, 2021
Walmart Health will acquire multi-specialty telehealth provider MeMD
Walmart Health is set to acquire multi-specialty telehealth provider MeMD.
The deal enables Walmart to provide customers across the U.S. virtual urgent, behavioral and primary care among other medical specialties. “Telehealth offers a great opportunity to expand access and reach consumers where they are, and complements our brick-and-mortar Walmart Health locations. Today people expect omnichannel access to care, and adding telehealth to our Walmart Health care strategies allows us to provide in-person and digital care across our multiple assets and solutions,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of Health and Wellness, in a statement.
Started in 2010, MeMD provides 24/7 virtual medical and mental care nationwide in a convenient and accessible manner. It is also offering screening for COVID-19 and can prescribe antibody testing for those who have potentially been exposed to the virus.
The deal follows Walmart’s decision to
scale back the number of clinics it planned to open in 2021. Initially announcing last September that it would open 125 clinics this year it later said in February that it would open only 22 instead, due to leadership changes, competing business priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the complexity of building up a large healthcare operation.
It previously partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2019 to
create a telehealth program to help veterans in their local communities. The retail giant allows veterans to meet with a VA provider in a private room via video technology.
Walmart told HCB News that it has “only shared what is in the release and will share more in the coming months once the deal is closed.”
The deal is expected to be completed in the coming months.
