CVS Health launches new virtual primary care service
CVS Health has launched its new virtual primary care offering with 24/7 on-demand care and scheduled mental health services.
The new offering, CVS Health Virtual Primary Care, is available to Aetna commercial members enrolled in fully-insured and self-insured health plans. CVS Health announced the new offering in May 2022, with the intent to start care services in 2023. The move comes just a few months after CVS Health announced it was acquiring home health care company Signify Health for $8 billion.
Members who want to use the service can schedule a primary care visit with a provider for on demand quick care for common illnesses and infections. The launch also expands CVS Health’s virtual mental healthcare services. Members 18 and older can also use the platform for access to virtual mental health support nationwide from clinicians, including licensed therapists and psychiatrists. Patients who use the virtual care services can follow up with in-person care if necessary.
The virtual care services are conducted by board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners, and the physician-led care teams consult with CVS pharmacists to care for patients. The care team can also view the comprehensive care plan from the dashboard of the new program.
“CVS Health Virtual Primary Care offers a more connected health care experience that supports patients throughout their health care journey,” Creagh Milford, DO, MPH, senior vice president of retail health, CVS Health, said in a statement. “By taking a care team approach and utilizing technology, we can provide more longitudinal and holistic care to create stronger relationships between patients and their providers.”
CVS Health’s new virtual care services also come after Amazon launched a new virtual healthcare services offering at the end of 2022.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."