Walmart Launches Provider Recommendation Tool for Health Plan Members

Walmart has partnered with a healthcare machine intelligence company to offer a personalized provider recommendation tool to associates who receive healthcare coverage through the retail giant’s health plan.

The company, Health at Scale, will provide the technology that Walmart intends to integrate into its health plan administrator’s search engine and virtual care referrals, according to the press release.

Associates and their families who are enrolled in Walmart’s health plan and work at select locations will have access to the resource, which aims to facilitate the process of finding a healthcare provider that fits a member’s health needs.

Walmart’s goal is to create a more personalized experience for its associates by providing a tool that uses machine intelligence. The tool considers users’ health concerns and history, then generates a list of providers who are best equipped to treat those specific needs.

According to the companies, the service will select providers who have successfully treated patients in the past for similar needs as the user. Walmart associates can use the tool to find providers for 25 different specialties and 34 procedures and imaging services.

"Customizing services and treatments to individual needs is the next frontier in healthcare and is a major part of Walmart's commitment to helping associates and their family members find great doctors who consistently deliver the best value and quality care in their community," Lisa Woods, vice president of Walmart US Benefits, said in the press release.

"We are excited to launch this collaboration with Health at Scale and are eager to see the impact that another innovative benefit like this will have on associates' healthcare experience and outcomes."

Selecting a provider—whether it be for primary care services, mental healthcare, or specialty care—can be a big decision for individuals. Walmart’s initiative may help simplify this process for its health plan members.

Health plan provider directories are also a popular resource when it comes to finding a provider, as consumers want to ensure that their health plan will provide coverage for the services they are seeking. Directories can include key information about in-network providers, including their location, phone number, specialty, and whether they are accepting new patients.

Patients may experience obstacles though, as provider directories are not always accurate due to a lack of collaboration between payers and providers.

Walmart’s provider recommendation benefit is not the first time the company has invested in the healthcare space.

In July 2020, Walmart started offering Medicare health plans under Walmart Insurance Services LLC.

In late 2021, the retail giant also established a partnership with a digital platform that aimed to benefit self-funded employers and their employees.

The collaboration allowed self-funded employer health plans to access Walmart’s healthcare offerings, including the company’s retail and specialty pharmacy services, telehealth services, prescription drugs, over-the-counter services, optical care, and community health centers.