Walmart will work with the nonprofit CareSource to better understand and mitigate racial inequities in health care. The three-year deal leverages Walmart’s position as a retailer and provider of health services and CareSource’s role in administering and delivering Medicaid, Medicare and other health plan benefits and services.
“Our goal is to utilize our combined assets to create healthier individuals and communities,” said Warren Moore, VP of Social Determinants of Health at Walmart in a statement. “We’re trying to close the gaps in care and promote positive health behavior change through holistic, culturally sustaining and high-quality health and wellness solutions. CareSource is the ideal partner to help bring this vision to life.”
The partnership will kick off in Ohio with a focus on cardiometabolic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension, which are among the top 10 leading causes of death in the state, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Walmart’s in-store Community Health Workers will facilitate the completion of state-approved health risk and social needs assessments and help connect select CareSource members to community resources, life skills support and health literacy education. Eligible members will receive monthly funds to spend on food, a Walmart+ membership for no-cost delivery and access to tele-nutrition services to help improve health outcomes.
Walmart and CareSource also will partner to support positive lifestyle behavior changes designed to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Georgia, which has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S. Expectant mothers and mothers that are 12 months post-partum who are enrolled in CareSource’s Georgia Medicaid managed care plan will gain access to in-store Community Health Workers, a Walmart+ membership, a “directed spend” program providing monthly funds for food and tele-doula services.
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“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,” said Dr. David Williams, EVP and Chief Medical Officer at CareSource in a statement. “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. As a result of this relationship, we expect an immediate, positive impact in the lives of our members.”
