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CHICAGO, Ill. — CVS Health will pair pharmacies "side-by-side" Oak Street Health’s senior-focused health centers in three locations. These initial Chicago locations are part of approximately 25 Oak Street Health centers planned to open by the end of 2024 side-by-side with existing CVS Pharmacy locations in 14 states.
The recently opened care centers offer an expanded pharmacy area and a curated selection of health and wellness products side-by-side with Oak Street Health, a value-based primary care center for Medicare-eligible adults. By bringing these distinct health care offerings under one roof, CVS Health is advancing senior primary care with a value-based personalized approach designed to deliver the right care at the right time – by removing barriers and gaps to patient care – and improve health outcomes, particularly for communities with greatest need.
The roll out of these new integrated care centers is part of CVS Healthspire, the new branded name for the company’s Health Services segment, which is designed to deliver connected patient care, pharmacy benefits, and innovative provider support solutions in communities across the country, making expert care simple, more accessible, and more affordable.
“Coupling these two powerful CVS Health assets advances the company’s strategy to deliver personalized health care experience in a more integrated way especially for senior patients with complex or chronic health conditions,” said Mike Pykosz, executive vice president and president of Health Care Delivery for CVS Health. “We are already seeing the benefits of Oak Street Health’s value-based model lowering the total cost of care for patients. We believe our evidence-based approach will build upon these results as we more fully integrate with our core businesses.”
Oak Street Health centers are designed to accommodate the services older adults often need in a primary care center. The comprehensive services go beyond primary care to include behavioral health, social support, and Medicare education – services traditional fee-for-service doctors may not offer – in one convenient location. In addition to the state-of-the art exam rooms, many centers have a spacious community room where seniors can gather for social connections and participate in various events and activities.
These side-by-side Oak Street Health centers and CVS Pharmacy locations have integrated care teams that provide a team-based approach in which pharmacists work collaboratively with providers to contribute to patient care and optimize patient outcomes. Incorporating pharmacists into the care team will help patients better manage their medications, improve adherence, address affordability, coordinate delivery and address concerns or questions. For older adult patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, coordinated care is especially beneficial given the potential for complex medication regimens, need for management of potential side effects, and the other needs CVS pharmacists are well-positioned to address.
“The teams at our care centers are committed to enhancing patient health and serving older adults in the community by providing personalized care opportunities to improve their health, wellness and quality of life,” said Michele Mitchell, MD, executive medical director, Oak Street Health, part of CVS Health. “Given our scale and unique set of integrated capabilities, this innovative new format is one of the many ways we are looking to connect care to help patients more seamlessly navigate a complicated system and help ensure they’re getting the care they need to stay healthy.”
The CVS Pharmacy at these locations will remain open to the public. The pharmacy team can fill prescriptions, administer vaccinations, and provide additional pharmacy care services for anyone who chooses CVS Pharmacy for their health, wellness and pharmacy care needs.
While Oak Street Health patients can choose to fill their prescriptions at any pharmacy, those who opt to fill at the adjacent CVS Pharmacy will benefit from the convenience of having a pharmacy in the same building. Integrating health care and pharmacy care providers will help increase access to medications by addressing the transportation, financial and administrative barriers some patients face and will help ensure that patients can pick up their prescriptions next door, the same day as their appointment with the primary care team.
“With the integration of Oak Street Health, we look forward to working as part of a patient’s broader care team, collaborating with Oak Street Health providers to help patients manage their medications, identify potential ways to save on prescription costs, provide recommended vaccinations, and improve adherence outcomes for patients,” said Jyoti Mann, pharmacy district leader, CVS Pharmacy.
Oak Street Health delivers personalized, preventive primary care through a model that was created to meet the unique needs of older adults who often face chronic illnesses. Oak Street Health has reduced patient hospital admissions by approximately 51%, driven a 42% reduction in 30-day readmission rates and a 51% reduction in emergency department visits, compared to Medicare benchmarks. The company is dedicated to making a positive impact in the areas it serves by focusing on closing health disparities, hiring employees from local neighborhoods, and investing resources to support its communities.
Oak Street Health accepts Medicare beneficiaries with Part B and Disability regardless of age and supplements, including most regional and national Medicare Advantage insurance plans and traditional Medicare.
In Chicago, Oak Street Health centers side-by-side with CVS Pharmacy locations include:
1819 N. Harlem Avenue in Belmont Cragin
6315 S. Pulaski Road in West Lawn
5524 W. Cermak Road in Cicero
Eligible patients can visit OakStreetHealth.com or CVS.com to learn more about the primary care services and pharmacy care services provided.
