The world of telehealth has expanded into what some may consider “non-traditional” arenas. Retailers Walgreens, Walmart and CVS have all entered the healthcare space in a variety of ways, including telehealth. Walgreens and CVS offer virtual visits and telehealth services to consumers while Walmart includes telehealth services in its employee benefits plan. Here are some things to know about each retail company’s telehealth strategy. See article in Becker’s Hospital Review.
- Walgreens offers 24/7 online doctor visits to consumers for $75 cash through MDLIVE; doesn’t accept insurance but some insurance companies will accept telehealth claims from the visits; takes HSA and FSA cards for payment; physicians can write prescriptions for non-narcotic medications and information is provided to primary care physicians in accordance with state and federal laws.
- CVS offers consumer video visits for $59 per visit; available 24/7 for 365 days per year; accepts debit and credit cards as well as FSA and HSA cards; accepts some insurance but isn’t required for treatment; video visits are available in 44 states and the District of Columbia; they are not available in Nevada, Montana, Alaska, Georgia, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
- Walmart offers telehealth to employees through their benefits plan with 24/7 access; video chat with a doctor with the premier plan, saver plan and local plans is $0 through Doctor On Demand; and associates and families not enrolled in the Walmart medical plan can use Doctor On Demand for $75 for medical visits, $70 for a 25-minute psychology consultation, $119 for a 50-minute psychology consultation, $99 for a 15-minute call with a psychiatrist or $229 for a 45-minute call with a psychiatrist.