CVS Pharmacy Addressing Access, Affordability and Quality Care with Annual Free Health Screening Campaign

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WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In its continuing commitment to improve access to affordable health care for all Americans, CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), announced the launch of Project Health, the company's annual free health screening campaign. Over the next four months, 450 Project Health wellness events will deliver more than $5 million worth of free health services in select CVS Pharmacy locations across 10 multicultural communities with a large number of uninsured or underinsured Americans.

"Project Health is part of CVS Health's commitment to improve access to health care and ensure that cost isn't a barrier to important preventive services," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., chief medical officer of CVS Health. "Our free health screenings can help identify health concerns or risk factors for participants who may not have access to care otherwise."

Project Health events, which are held from September 7 through December 17, are open to everyone and do not require an appointment. Current CVS Pharmacy locations for the events include: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and select CVS Pharmacy stores in Puerto Rico.

Given the catastrophic flooding and ongoing recovery efforts in Houston, all Project Health events in the area are being postponed. CVS Health is committed to rescheduling these free health and wellness events to the residents of Houston when it is safe to do so and when the community will have greater access to these much needed services.

Project Health offers an array of free comprehensive health assessment screenings, including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose and total cholesterol screenings, which can help detect risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Today, 1 in 2 Americans has at least one chronic illness with 85 percent of our health care dollars spent each year caring for Americans with these diseases.¹

"These chronic conditions, which can often be life-threatening, can be treated very effectively when identified early, helping to improve a patient's health and well-being, as well as reducing costs for both the patient and the overall health care delivery system," added Brennan.

Once screened, patients have access to on-site consultations with bilingual nurse practitioners or physician assistants who will analyze results and refer patients who require additional medical care and follow up to no-cost or low-cost medical facilities nearby or to their primary care physician.

Since it was established in 2006, Project Health has delivered more than $117 million in free health care services to more than 887,000 people, many of whom lack access to preventive care. Last year, high rates of specific treatable conditions among Project Health participants were detected, including:

• 49 percent were found to be overweight or obese
• 39 percent had abnormal blood pressure readings
• 31 percent had abnormal glucose readings
• 38 percent were found to have abnormal cholesterol levels

CVS Health will be partnering with YMCAs in Houston, Atlanta and Los Angeles this year to encourage their members to participate in Project Health screenings in these markets.

"As a leading community-based organization dedicated to improving the nation's health, the Y shares CVS Health's goal to deliver preventive care, like screenings, in places where access is a barrier," said Kevin Washington, President and CEO, YMCA of the USA. "Taking health care out of clinical settings and putting it into our neighborhoods can save lives, reduce costs and make our communities stronger."

Project Health events will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at select CVS Pharmacy locations. For a full calendar of Project Health events, visit www.cvs.com/projecthealth (in Spanish: www.cvs.com/proyectosalud).

About CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with over 9,700 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health is available at www.cvshealth.com.

¹ Centers for Disease Control. Chronic Disease Overview. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/

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SOURCE CVS Pharmacy