Walmart is aiming to lower spending and improve healthcare outcomes for its employees by sending them to New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System for hip and knee replacements.
Four things to know:
1. Over the past five years, Walmart has encouraged employees to undergo a variety of procedures, including spine, heart, and hip and knee surgeries, at hospitals known for providing high-quality care. As an incentive, the retail giant offered to pay for the full cost of the procedures and travel.
2. Most recently, Walmart teamed up with Ochsner. Walmart will send employees from across the nation to Ochsner's flagship facility for hip and knee replacement surgery. Ochsner is the 12th healthcare organization named a Walmart Center of Excellence for joint replacement surgery.
3. "Our team is honored to partner with Walmart to provide their team members from across the country with world-class orthopedic care," George Chimento, MD, department chairman of orthopedics at Ochsner, said in a press release. "This partnership will allow thousands of individuals to receive life-changing medical services, while keeping healthcare affordable."
4. The designation builds on the existing partnership between Walmart and Ochsner. In 2018, the two organizations launched a health insurance plan for about 6,600 Walmart and Sam's Club employees.
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