Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has entered into a three-year agreement with the non-profit managed care provider CareSource to improve healthcare in underserved communities and address racial health inequities, the companies announced in a news release.
The collaboration “will leverage Walmart’s position as a retailer and provider of health and wellness services, and CareSource’s role in the administration and delivery of Medicaid, Medicare and other health plan benefits and services,” the companies said.
It will first be rolled out in Ohio where the focus will be on addressing cardiometabolic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension. Walmart’s in-store community health workers will complete needs assessments, connecting CareSource members to resources, such as life skills support and health literacy education. Some members will receive food stipends and access to tele-nutrition services.
A program aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes will also be launched in Georgia, which has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S., Walmart and CareSource said in a news release.
“This partnership will address the major needs our members face, which are difficulty with transportation, access to healthy food, access to care and assistance with care coordination,” Dr. David Williams, CareSource executive vice president and chief medical officers, said in the news release. “We know providing additional support, such as an in-store community health worker, will create another access point to ensure our members have the resources they need, within a location they frequent.”
