CVS Caremark Recognizes its Pharmacists for Their Role in Improving Patient Care and Lowering Health Care Costs

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Caremark, the nation's largest pharmacy health care provider, is taking the opportunity during October's American Pharmacists Month to recognize the critical role that its pharmacists play in programs and services that are delivering solutions that improve the health of patients while lowering the overall cost of health care.  CVS Caremark employs more than 26,000 pharmacists in its retail pharmacies, mail service pharmacies and specialty pharmacies.  

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"Pharmacists are consistently ranked by the public as being the most accessible and among the most trustworthy health care providers in the community," said Larry Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Caremark. "CVS Caremark's pharmacists play an important role in supporting our goal to provide greater access, convenience and quality pharmacy care to patients."  

A study sponsored by CVS Caremark last year found that face-to-face interaction with a pharmacist was the most effective method of communication to get patients to take their medicine as prescribed. Medication adherence helps patients improve their health outcomes while lowering overall health care costs.

Among the initiatives through which CVS Caremark pharmacists are actively engaging patients are:

• Flu shots:  Pharmacists in all 7,200 CVS/pharmacy stores are providing flu vaccinations to patients every day with no appointment necessary, including evenings and weekends.
• Pharmacy Advisor:  Winner of the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute's 2011 Rx Benefit Innovation Award, this program reduces costs, improves medication adherence and closes gaps in care for PBM plan members through individualized counseling with CVS Caremark pharmacists.
• Care 1 on 1:  A program in which patients are offered dedicated time with CVS pharmacists to review savings, safety and side effects when transferring or filling a new ongoing medication.  

CVS Caremark will publicly recognize its pharmacists and their commitment to patient care during the month of October with ads in industry trade publications and on its in-store radio network. The Company will also celebrate National Pharmacy Technician Day on Tuesday, October 25 in recognition of the valuable role its 50,000 technicians play in supporting CVS Caremark pharmacists and serving their patients.

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. We are uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of approximately 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,200 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's website at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

Mike DeAngelis
CVS Caremark
401.770.2645
[email protected]

SOURCE CVS Caremark