Walmart to close health center at Columbus location

The health center at a Macon Walmart is among 17 in the state closing for good, the company announced Tuesday.

Walmart is closing 17 Georgia health centers, which provide vital care services, including the one on Whittlesey Boulevard in Columbus. Walmart launched the health centers in 2019 with the first one opening in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Walmart said in a statement it had determined there is not a sustainable business model for the health centers to continue and it would be closing all 51 health centers across five states and shutting down virtual care.

“We understand this change affects lives – the patients who receive care, the associates and providers who deliver care and the communities who supported us along the way,” the statement read. “This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that make the care business unsustainable for us at this time.”

Walmart officials said their priority will be ensuring the people and communities who are impacted are treated with the utmost respect, compassion and support throughout the transition.

In addition to Columbus, other Georgia locations impacted by the closures include:

Calhoun Carrollton Cartersville Conyers Dallas Dalton Fayetteville Loganville

Macon Marietta Mcdonough Monroe Newnan Rome Suwanee Woodstock

The retailer stated it does not have a specific date for when each center will close, but will share that information as soon as decisions are made.

Officials said Walmart’s nearly 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers would not be impacted by health center closures.