Retail clinic claims volumes have shot up by 200% in the past five years, according to a new report. The research argued that retailers are beginning to seriously compete with the traditional healthcare system when it comes to the primary care market — growth in retail clinic claims have greatly outpaced claims growth for urgent care centers, emergency departments and physician practices.

Research shows that about 73% of benefits leaders believe their companies have increased mental health support, but about 40% of employees either don’t believe or are unsure if their company promotes a healthy workplace. When it comes to if there’s a disconnect between employers and employees in mental health, the issue often lies in communication, said Adam Stavisky, senior vice president of US benefits at Walmart.

Here is a selection of recent executive hires, promotions and layoffs occurring across the healthcare industry.

Whether it was Amazon’s buy of One Medical or CVS Health’s acquisition of Signify Health, retailers made waves in healthcare this year. Across all of the deals, it’s clear that expanding access to medical services is the key goal, experts said. And this is only the beginning.

Among the takeaways from HLTH 2022 were the impact of consolidation on clinicians, behavioral health tools to help consumers manage stress and anxiety more productively, and how health tech and medtech companies are supporting remote patient monitoring and testing.

Consumer research firm Forrester recently predicted major trends that would shape healthcare in 2023. Healthcare stakeholders should prepare for key changes, such as care becoming even more inaccessible for rural patients and additional retail entrants into the clinic space.

Retail pharmacy chains and Amazon are transforming themselves into omnichannel healthcare providers, developing primary care services and virtual tools through acquisitions, partnerships and investments.

With footprints in local communities across the country, retailers have the food, the medicine, the pharmacist and now even the access to local and convenient care consumers need.

Walmart’s partnership with Health at Scale is meant to connect employees and their families with health providers who can best care for them. The retail giant’s collaboration with Quest Diagnostics is aimed at increasing consumer access to high-quality lab tests.

A federal jury found pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart helped fuel the opioid epidemic in two Ohio counties. It’s the first trial pharmacy chains have faced related to the opioid crisis, though several other lawsuits have been filed.

The company launched a new health division, and has doubled down on its plans to open primary care clinics with VillageMD. It faces big competitors in CVS and Walmart, and it’ll take time to see if its new strategy pays off.

Transcarent, which is works with companies to steer their employees toward higher-quality, lower-cost care, struck a partnership with Walmart. It will offer Walmart’s health services, including its prescription prices, to self-insured companies. 

Included Health, a benefits navigation startup for LGBTQ+ employees, recently landed two big clients, Walmart and State Farm. CEO Colin Quinn explained the company’s journey so far and why more benefits leaders are paying attention to LGBTQ+ employees’ health needs. 

Despite mounting court and legislative scrutiny of pharmacy and prescription benefit manager practices, Amazon has chosen to throw its hat into the discount pharmacy ring. Could Amazon “disrupt” prescription drug delivery?

Walmart struck a deal with Novo Nordisk to offer a heavily discounted, private-label version of its fast-acting analog insulin. But it still doesn’t solve the pricing problems patients have faced, with insulin costs skyrocketing in recent years.

Walmart is buying telehealth provider MeMD, adding virtual urgent care and therapy visits. Walmart said the deal would complement the in-person health centers it is building in some of its stores. 

After the Food and Drug Administration authorized a swathe of over-the-counter tests for Covid-19, pharmacies are preparing to stock their shelves. But at $20 to $100 a pop, will enough people use them to make a difference?

Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and dozens of other pharmacies will start administering a limited number of vaccines as part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. It will offer vaccines in medically underserved areas to healthcare workers, people ages 65 and older, and essential workers, according to local guidelines.

Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks and other retailers are offering to play a bigger role in helping distribute Covid-19 vaccines. In most states, essential workers are still waiting for their first dose.

The Justice Department has sued Walmart for fanning the flames of the opioid crisis through its network of pharmacies, claiming that the retailer knowingly filled thousands of illegitimate opioid prescriptions. But Walmart says the lawsuit is “misguided.”

The retailer plans to open primary care clinics in Houston, El Paso, Austin, Phoenix and Orlando by next summer as part of its partnership with startup VillageMD.

The retailer is offering at-home Covid-19 testing kits, including nasal swabs and saliva test kits, from Los Angeles-based startup myLab Box.

Patient engagement and experience were coming into focus as part of the overall transformation of healthcare, but the advent of Covid-19 has thrust it to the forefront. Hear from patients, providers, retailers, tech disruptors and others about why patient engagement is paramount.

The plans will include zero-dollar premiums and will give patients access to free primary care visits, dental exams and lab tests at Walmart Health centers across the state.

Walgreens plan to open hundreds of VillageMD clinics at its stores in the next five years. It would be the first major move by Walgreens to staff its locations with primary care physicians.

The company says it’s looking beyond traditional retail clinics as it seeks to create “supercenters” with comprehensive healthcare services.

Walmart acquired CareZone’s medication management technology and intellectual property. The purchase is the latest move by Walmart to compete with its pharmacy services.

The two pharmacy chains plan to ramp up testing locations, with CVS saying it will add 1,000 sites and Walgreens saying it will add drive-thru testing in all 49 states. Currently, they have just a handful of sites across the U.S.

With worries over health and the economy affecting most employees, companies are looking for ways to roll out more mental health tools. In turn, many digital health startups have found new clients.