Walmart Health Acquires Telehealth Provider MeMD
Walmart Health has acquired MeMD, a multispeciality telehealth provider. Over the coming months, Walmart officials contend the acquisition will allow the company to provide access to virtual care across the U.S., including urgent, behavioral and primary care.
These virtual care offerings complement their existing in-person Walmart Health centers. Walmart Health started its journey by opening its first center in Dallas, Ga in 2019. Since that first opening, the company has opened several new centers across the state and has also announced expansions to other states such as Arkansas and Florida. Now, with this deal, officials believe that it affirms Walmart Health’s “commitment to integrated, omnichannel health delivery that leverages data and technology to improve engagement, health equity and outcomes.”
Also in 2019, Walmart began offering medical and behavioral health visits through another telehealth provider—Doctor on Demand. Then last year, the virtual care program expanded, offering associates $4 virtual care visits through the company’s partnership with Doctor on Demand, to employees in Colorado, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
MeMD was founded in 2010 by John Shufeldt, M.D., to provide virtual care nationwide, leveraging the latest online technologies to deliver care 24/7/365 in a more convenient and accessible manner. Today, MeMD delivers medical and mental health visits to millions of members nationwide.
“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,” Cheryl Pegus, M.D., executive vice president, Health & Wellness, said in a statement.
MeMD CEO Bill Goodwin, added, “We’ve achieved incredible strides in making health care available to individuals and businesses around the country through our easy, affordable and intuitive online platform. We can’t imagine a better partner than Walmart as we are both committed to innovative health care delivery and bringing affordable, high-quality care to as many people as possible.”
The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in the coming months.