The nations largest retailer by number of stores is ending a partnership launched in 2022 with DocGo. Here's what it means.
Another healthcare disruptor is abandoning its mobile health plans.
Dollar General, the nation’s largest retailer by number of locations, and digital health provider DocGo have reportedly ended their partnership, ending a two-year-old program that sought to place mobile clinics in select Dolar General stores across the country.
The two joined forces in the fall of 2022 to target persistent health inequalities, particularly in rural America, where some 80% of Dollar General stores are located. The mobile clinics, offering urgent and primary care services, charged $69 for self-paying customers and accepted Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance.
According to news reports, the two companies mutually agreed to part ways.
The announcement rings a familiar tune in the direct-to-consumer healthcare market, where disruptors have been trying to compete with healthcare providers. Walmart recently announced plans to close all 51 of its health centers and shutter its virtual care business, while Walgreens is closing more than 100 of its VillageMD clinics and CVS is seeking private equity funding to prop up its Oak Street Health primary care clinics.
The lesson to be learned is that healthcare—especially for-profit primary care--is hard, especially for those outside the industry who think they have better ideas of how it should be run.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Dollar General and DocGo have reportedly mutually agreed to end their partnership.
Dollar General joins Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS in scaling back or ending direct-to-consumer primary care programs.