CVS Health has launched Virtual Primary Care, adding to its array of home care-related offerings and signaling it may be moving closer to a home care acquisition.
Last week, the Woonsocket, RI-based company announced it will begin offering virtual primary care services on Jan. 1, 2023, to members of its wholly owned Aetna insurance plans, self-insured plan sponsors and CVS Caremark clients.
“We’re meeting people where they are on their health care journey and providing care that is more convenient and easier to access,” Creagh Milford, CVS vice president of enterprise virtual care, said in a statement. “When we make it simple, we can help people lead healthier lives.”
CVS Health Virtual Primary Care members will have access to on-demand primary care, chronic condition management and mental health services. Virtual primary care providers can also refer members to in-network specialists. And patients can choose to see an in-network provider or a clinician at a CVS Minute Clinic, if necessary.
The virtual primary care teams will include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses. The care teams will also consult with CVS pharmacists when necessary. Electronic data keeping will help patients transition between in-person and virtual care teams and help close gaps in care and maintain wellness.
Going home
CVS has been pushing deeper into the home. Earlier this year, it launched a home health product line that includes a half-dozen mobility devices for seniors and people with disabilities. The company also invested in Biofourmis, a technology company that provides virtual care and medical platforms for hospital-at-home. CVS Health CFO Shawn Guertin also told analysts during an earnings call in February the company is on the hunt to buy or launch a home care company.
CVS Health’s strategy is similar to that of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Last fall, the company invested $5.2 billion in VillageMD, opening the door to in-home primary care for Walgreens’ customers. The company also has a majority stake in Carecentrix, a home-centered platform that coordinates the delivery of healthcare to the home through durable equipment, home infusion and in-home palliative care.
