New Clinics Could Save Consumers, Health Insurance System Money

A new feature being offered by Walmart has the potential to affect how much money Americans pay for basic medical procedures in the coming years, potentially allowing greater savings on health insurance and the overall healthcare system.

Some stores have been unveiling Walmart Clinics, which offer basic services like flu shots, pregnancy tests and treatments for things like sore throat, pink eye and earaches.

According to the retail giant's website, people can also get routine health checks for around $60 and about 55 percent of patients who visit these clinics are uninsured.

One thing to watch for in the longer term will be whether these clinics give rise to a broader trend of patients being able to see the cost of more medical procedures listed up front, before undergoing them. Some policy experts have maintained that this alone could save consumers billions on healthcare costs by promoting more price competition among medical providers.

A greater number of clinics handling relatively minor medical needs could also help take some pressure off the nation's emergency rooms, which have been increasingly strained by patients who lack primary care physicians or health insurance.