“May you live in interesting times,” as the Chinese proverb says. And, we do.

Barely three weeks after reducing insurance coverage for part-time employees and raising premiums for full time workers, Wal-Mart announced it wants to become the “largest provider of primary healthcare services in the nation.”

According to a report on NPR and Kaiser Health News, one wag remarked, “If you get someone in the door, you can also sell them milk and a shotgun.”

At this point the retailer is requesting proposals to help them meet their goal of “managing and monitoring patients with chronic, costly health conditions like asthma, HIV, arthritis, depression and sleep apnea.” This is after Wal-Mart’s previous efforts with in-store clinics slowed as investment capital dried up. Most recently, the retailer turned to leasing space to hospital systems, but that effort, too has struggled, according to media reports.

It will be interesting to watch to see who responds to Wal-Mart’s proposal in this third effort. And will their employees get a discount on care to make up for their increased premiums or lack of insurance?

What do you think about this new attempt at providing health care?