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Last weekend, hundreds of North Idaho residents took part in Walmart Wellness Day and took advantage of free and discounted medical care that retail giant Walmart offers at stores with pharmacy services.
Walmart’s local Smelterville, Hayden and Post Falls stores held Wellness Day events where customers could receive free health screenings including blood sugar, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Influenza, COVID-19, HPV, mumps, measles, pneumonia, tetanus, HPV, rubella (MMR), chickenpox (varicella/shingles), pertussis (TDAP), hepatitis A, type B Vaccinations against diseases such as hepatitis are also available at affordable rates.
Some locations offered free vision tests or the opportunity to speak with a pharmacist, along with other health-related resources.
In Idaho, access to basic health care services is limited, especially for those who fall into the Limited Access Income Restricted Employer (ALICE) category or those who are below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL). It’s remarkable.
ALICE is the official acronym for families caught in the economic “inequality.” That means families who earn too much to qualify for state or federal aid, but still fall below the line to be considered middle class. According to state data, this typically puts families in the difficult position of having to choose between paying for medical bills and services or paying for things like groceries, utilities and child care. .
According to the latest data from Idaho, 40% of households in Shoshone County and 31% of households in Kootenai County were considered ALICE, and 15% and 10%, respectively, were considered FPL.
Josh Havens, Wal-Mart’s director of global communications for the Western United States, sees events like this as an easy way for the company to help meet people in the middle class.
Many of the services provided during Wellness Day events are free or heavily discounted, making it easier for ALICE households to take advantage of this opportunity.
“Wellness Day is a very impactful event because it gives our customers an opportunity to review their health priorities and remind them to meet our talented pharmacists,” said Haven after the Wellness Day event. he told the News-Press. In rural and underserved communities, Walmart pharmacies are uniquely positioned to provide quality, affordable health and wellness services in the places where our neighbors already shop. . They are trusted because they also live and work in these communities. ”
Since 2014, Walmart Pharmacy has hosted Walmart Wellness Day and provided more than 5 million free health screenings for customers.
“Community response and attendance to Wellness Day on January 20, 2024 was very positive, with the main service provided being vaccinations, which is surprising given the cold and flu season. That’s not true,” Haven said.
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