Centers of Excellence Program to Provide Services for Breast, Lung
and Colorectal Cancers
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- (Business Wire)
Building on its innovative program that has enhanced the quality of
health care for its associates, Walmart announced it is expanding its
Centers of Excellence program to include three cancers with Mayo Clinic,
one of the nation’s leading health care providers.
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Walmart associates and family members enrolled
in the company’s health reimbursement account plans or health savings
account plan who are diagnosed with breast, lung or colorectal cancer
can obtain a review of their medical records by Mayo Clinic, and when
recommended, receive care covered at 100 percent for on-site visits at
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center locations in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville,
Fla., or Phoenix, Ariz.
“We are proud to expand our Centers of Excellence with Mayo Clinic to
help ensure that our associates and their covered family members who are
diagnosed with cancer receive the best care,” said Sally Welborn, senior
vice president of global benefits at Walmart. “The three cancers covered
under our program are among the most prevalent experienced by associates
on our health care plans.”
"We are pleased that Walmart approached us to help its associates
diagnosed with breast, colon and lung cancer,” said Jan Buckner, M.D.,
deputy director for practice at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. “Our
coordinated approach to cancer care offers patients the latest advances
in treatment in a compassionate and caring environment.”
Walmart’s Centers of Excellence cancer program will provide a review of
an associate’s medical record, or their covered family member’s medical
record, by Mayo Clinic oncologists following a diagnosis of breast, lung
or colorectal cancer. The review will determine if they would benefit
from an on-site visit at a Mayo Clinic location. On-site visits will be
covered at 100 percent and will include recommended treatment, such as
chemotherapy, radiation or surgery without deductible or coinsurance,
plus travel expenses for the patient and a caregiver.
The
National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that breast cancer is the
most common type of cancer, with about 235,000 new cases expected in the
United States in 2014. Lung cancer, with over 224,000 cases expected
this year, and colorectal cancer, with a projected 136,000 new cases in
2014, also rank among the most common cancers in the U.S.
Walmart launched its first-of-a-kind Centers of Excellence program in
January 2013, which focused on select spine and cardiac procedures. In
2014, Walmart partnered with the Pacific Business Group on Health to
extend the Centers of Excellence program to include knee and hip
replacement procedures. Walmart first partnered with Mayo Clinic in 1997
for associates in need of organ transplants.
Walmart remains committed to making healthcare affordable for its
associates. Hundreds
of associates and their family members have elected to receive
Centers of Excellence care since 2013.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save
money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores,
online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 250
million customers and members visit our 11,053 stores under 71 banners
in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal
year 2014 sales of over $473 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2
million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in
sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.
Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and
on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.
About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a
nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for
people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150
years.mayoclinic.org, http://www.mayoclinic.org/ and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.
Contacts:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Randy Hargrove, 1-800-331-0085
news.walmart.com/reporter
Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
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