CVS Health's MinuteClinic Offering New Virtual Care Service
MinuteClinic Video Visits will provide patients with access to health care services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through their mobile devices.
CVS Health has announced a new telehealth option as an extension of its retail MinuteClinic service. MinuteClinic Video Visits will provide patients with access to health care services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through their mobile devices.
The company's new virtual health care program is designed for patients with minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions, and other wellness needs, according to the company.
"We're excited to be able to bring this innovative care option to patients," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health, in a prepared statement. "Through this new telehealth offering, patients now have an additional option for seeking care that is even more convenient for them.”
According to CVS Health, MinuteClinic has been testing telehealth as a method of increasing access to care in recent years. During the initial phase of testing, an internal study found that 95% of patients who opted to receive a telehealth visit were highly satisfied with the quality of care they received.1In the same study, 95% of patients who utilized the telehealth service were satisfied with its convenience, and the overall experience.
MinuteClinic Video Visits rely on a virtual care technology platform by Teledoc to provide patients with customized service through the CVS Pharmacy app. A video visit can be used to care for patients aged 2 years and older, and each patient will complete a health questionnaire.
In a prepared statement Teledoc’s CEO Jason Gorevic said the partnership with CVS Health moves forward the capabilities of virtual health care, "CVS Health's expansion of their health care model to include video visits brings even more care delivery options to patients, and Teladoc is proud to work with them on this offering,” he added.
Patients are matched to board-certified health care providers who are licensed in their state. A provider will review the completed questionnaire with the patient's medical history, assess the patient's condition, and determine the appropriate course of treatment following evidence-based clinical care guidelines. For patients who require a prescription as part of their treatment plan, the provider will submit the prescription to the patient's preferred pharmacy. If it is determined the patient should be seen in person for follow-up care or testing, the provider will recommend that the patient visit a health care provider in their community.
A MinuteClinic Video Visit costs $59, and is payable by credit or debit card. Insurance coverage is expected to be incorporated into the program in the coming months.
The service is currently available in 9 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Virginia, as well as Washington D.C. It is expected to be available nationwide, where allowed, by the end of 2018.
Reference
CVS Health's MinuteClinic Introduces New Virtual Care Offering [news release]. Woonsocket, RI; August 8, 2018: CVS Health. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvs-healths-minuteclinic-introduces-new-virtual-care-offering-300693840.html. Accessed August 8, 2018.
