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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As digital technology continues to change the health care landscape, CVS Health today announced that MinuteClinic, the company’s retail medical clinic, is rolling out a new virtual health care offering for patients with minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions and other wellness needs. MinuteClinic Video Visits, a telehealth offering, will provide patients with access to health care services 24 hours a day, seven days a week from their mobile device.
“We’re excited to be able to bring this innovative care option to patients,” said Dr. Troyen Brennan, executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Health. “At CVS Health, we’re committed to delivering high-quality care when and where our patients need it and at prices they can afford. Through this new telehealth offering, patients now have an additional option for seeking care that is even more convenient for them.”
MinuteClinic has been testing telehealth as a method of increasing access to care in recent years. During the initial phase of testing, a CVS Health study found that 95 percent of patients who opted to receive a telehealth visit were highly satisfied with the quality of care they received. In the same study, 95% of patients were satisfied with the convenience of using the telehealth service and the overall telehealth experience. Those results led the company to develop the expanded virtual care offering being launched today.
Working collaboratively with Teladoc, the global leader in virtual care, and leveraging Teladoc’s technology platform, patients can receive care via a MinuteClinic Video Visit, initiated through the CVS Pharmacy app. Patients who opt to seek care through a fully customized MinuteClinic Video Visit experience the same high-quality, evidence-based care they receive at traditional MinuteClinic locations inside select CVS Pharmacy and Target stores.
A video visit can be used to care for patients ages two years and up who are seeking treatment for a minor illness, minor injury, or a skin condition. Each patient will complete a health questionnaire, then be matched to a board-certified health care provider licensed in their state, who will review the completed questionnaire with the patient’s medical history, and proceed with the video-enabled visit.
“As we continue to move the capabilities of virtual care forward, this is an exciting advancement,” said Jason Gorevic, chief executive officer, Teladoc. “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.”
During a MinuteClinic Video Visit, the provider will 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, such as their primary care provider or a nearby MinuteClinic.
A MinuteClinic Video Visit costs $59, which is currently payable by credit card or debit card. Insurance coverage will be added to the experience in the coming months. The service is currently available in nine states – Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Virginia – and Washington D.C. and is expected to be available nationwide, where allowed, by the end of 2018.
