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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee Inc. has become a joint owner of the medical clinic operator Exemplar Care as it works to bring more affordable primary care and urgent care services to Iowa patients and employers.
Under the agreement, Exemplar Care medical clinics will be renamed as Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, offering direct primary care and 24/7 urgent care (where available). Locations are currently open in West Des Moines and Ankeny, Iowa, with another coming soon in Bondurant, Iowa. These clinics will be managed by Hy-Vee chief medical officer Dr. Daniel Fick and Exemplar Care’s leadership team, including founder Dr. Jon Van Der Veer.
Through Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, employer groups can provide their employees access to unlimited primary and urgent care through memberships for a fixed monthly fee or layer the membership with a major medical health plan. Healthcare memberships are also available to individuals and families outside of an employer-funded plan.
“We are proud to partner with Exemplar Care to provide a new way of delivering health care to patients and employer groups,” said Aaron Wiese, president of Hy-Vee. “By combining Exemplar Care’s expertise with Hy-Vee’s extensive background in pharmacy and infusion care, we will not only be able to reduce the cost of health care for patients and employers, but more importantly, improve the health of our patients through personalized patient care, increased access to care and transparent pricing.”
Hy-Vee has operated in the healthcare industry for more than 50 years and continues to expand its operations. The retailer currently operates more than 275 retail pharmacies across eight Midwestern states, as well as Amber Specialty Pharmacy, an award-winning, national specialty pharmacy provider. In 2020, Hy-Vee formed its own pharmacy benefit manager Vivid Clear Rx to combat rising drug prices by bringing more transparency to the industry.
Hy-Vee has also entered the medical space in recent years, launching a low-cost telehealth and online pharmacy provider called RedBox Rx that specializes in mental health, men’s health, women’s health and more. Most recently, Hy-Vee opened Hy-Vee Health Infusion Care medical practices in West Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago to provide affordable infusion therapy to patients with chronic conditions.
The retailer has invested heavily in the wellness industry, employing a team of registered dietitians who offer nutritional services virtually and in person. Hy-Vee’s dietitians and pharmacists also work together to offer Food as Medicine-supported services to help individuals manage health conditions through dietary changes. Utilizing its fleet of mobile health units, Hy-Vee’s dietitians and pharmacists also provide health and wellness services across communities and within workplaces. Additionally, Hy-Vee operates a free educational program for children called Hy-Vee KidsFit that promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits.
The joint ownership of Exemplar Care marks Hy-Vee’s latest expansion in the industry. To learn more about Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, visit www.exemplar.care.
