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Walmart announced a program on August 29 that allows pharmacists to test for Covid-19, the flu, and strep, and then prescribe an appropriate treatment—something that’s usually left to primary care providers (PCPs).
And unlike most doctor’s offices, Walmart is up-front about how much its services cost patients.
Under the Testing and Treatment program, a symptom assessment costs patients $70, a strep throat test costs $59, and flu and Covid tests both cost $88. Treatments like Tamiflu or antibiotics start at $4.
Walmart isn’t accepting insurance for the program, so patients will pay those costs out of pocket, the company shared with Healthcare Brew. Kevin Host, SVP of pharmacy for Walmart Health and Wellness, said in a statement that the program plans to accept insurance in the future.
Currently, Walmart accepts health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and health reimbursement arrangements, and prescriptions can be covered by insurance.
The results for each test come back within 15–30 minutes, according to Walmart. If a prescription is given, the pharmacist will contact the patient’s PCP and let them know about the new medication, as well as follow up with the patient within 72 hours to see how they’re feeling, according to the program’s website.
Walmart executives hope the program will help alleviate the nationwide PCP shortage, Host said. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts the US will be short as many as 48,000 PCPs by 2034.
Plus, Walmart stores could be a more convenient location for some people to receive care, particularly those who live in rural areas where patients tend to travel farther to get to a doctor’s office; 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart store.
The program is operating in close to 1,100 Walmart pharmacies in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.
Walmart spokesperson Lauren Snow told Healthcare Brew those states were chosen because those are places where pharmacists already have the authority to provide same-day care.
“We think expanding the scope of our pharmacists’ practice matters now—and will continue to well into the future,” Host said in a statement.