Wal-Mart Expanding Into Healthcare?

Wal-Mart is seeking more information about what it would take to integrate healthcare services into its network of retail stores. In Rohnert Park, the international super-chain, which operates 4,400 retail stores nationwide, came under fire in July 2010 after the City Council OK'd the company's expansion into a grocery store on Redwood Drive.

Rene Chouteau, a Sonoma County judge, issued a July ruling in the lawsuit between the Sierra Club and Wal-Mart, decrying a section of the environmental impact report dealing with traffic mitigation and noise as inadequate, according to a news release. Chouteau said the environmental impacts must be reanalyzed and resubmitted to the city for approval.

Now, according to a report by National Public Radio's health blog, called "Shots," Wal-Mart "wants to be your doctor."

Although the company countered NPR's Nov. 2 report, officials haven't disputed the authenticity of a "Request for Information" issued by Wal-Mart. The document stated that the chain "intends to build a national, integrated, low-cost primary care healthcare platform that will provide preventative and chronic care services that are currently out of reach for millions of Americans."

The request continued that Wal-Mart "intends to do this in an affordable and accessible way while maintaining or improving quality outcomes. Wal-Mart seeks partners who have a care model or capability that can help dramatically drive down the cost of care, while maintaining or improving quality on a national level."

Read the full text from NPR here.

The following statement was issued by John Agwunobi, the senior vice president and president of Wal-Mart U.S. Health and Wellness, days after NPR reported the story: "The Request for Information statement was overwritten and incorrect. We are not building a national, integrated low-cost primary health care platform."

What do you think? Would you like to see Wal-Mart serve as a one-stop shop for groceries, healthcare and other daily goods? We're seeking what you think about the mega-retailer. Tell us in the comments, or send an email to angela.hart@patch.com.

Editor's note: According to the company, Wal-Mart's net sales in the U.S. were more than $260 billion for fiscal year 2011, and the chain has increased net sales company-wide by 3.4 percent — for a total of $419 billion.