Walmart To Test New Health Care Services For Workers

Walmart executives say it’s hoping to remove a meaningful chunk of unnecessary health care cost for the company and its employees.

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Walmart is rolling out a health care pilot program for its employees that will come up with a curated list of high-quality providers but offer fewer choices than under the current plan. Through the program, Walmart will help employees connect with local doctors in areas like primary care, cardiology and obstetrics. It is working with Nashville-based data analytics company Embold Health, which will cull through vast amounts of data from public and private insurance plans to come up with recommended providers based on effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Walmart will in turn use that data to curate a list for employees.

“It’s a thoughtful approach to a goal of better health and better health care,” said Adam Stavisky, senior vice president US benefits, Walmart during a media call on Wednesday. The program will cover U.S. Walmart and Sam’s Club workers in Orlando and Tampa Florida, the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area and Northwest Arkansas starting Jan. 1. A human personal health care assistant will also be available for workers in North and South Carolina as a goto resource on billing questions, making an appointm