CVS/pharmacy® Reminds Patients with Diabetes about the Importance of Regular Testing to Help Manage Their Disease

WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS/pharmacy is reminding patients with diabetes that one of the most important ways they can manage their disease is to perform regular testing of their blood sugar (glucose) levels. While the number of providers that will accept Medicare coverage for diabetes testing supplies is expected to decline after July 1, 2013 due to Medicare changes, CVS/pharmacy is informing those treating diabetes it will continue to accept Medicare Part B coverage for test strips and other diabetes testing supplies. The Company has more than 7,400 locations in the U.S. and stocks all major brands of diabetes supplies.

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"More than 25 million people in the United States have diabetes and every 17 seconds, another American is diagnosed with diabetes, so it is critical that patients continue to have affordable access to diabetes testing supplies to help them manage their disease," said Papatya Tankut, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Affairs at CVS Caremark. "CVS/pharmacy is committed to ensuring that Medicare patients can use their insurance coverage for test strips and other diabetes supplies. We also offer 90-day supplies of prescription test strips at the same low price as mail order."

CVS pharmacists are available every day as a resource for patients with diabetes who need advice or who have questions about prescription and over the counter medications to manage their disease. CVS/pharmacy can also assist patients with any new paperwork from their doctor's office that is required by the changes Medicare is making to coverage of diabetes testing supplies.  

Another resource CVS/pharmacy offers patients with diabetes is the ExtraCare Advantage for Diabetes^® program, which has helped more than 2 million members save money and better manage the disease since 2010. The program is free and open to all members of the CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare savings and rewards program. Cardholders can easily sign up at CVS.com/diabetes. Once enrolled, patients and caregivers can earn double ExtraBucks^® Rewards on more than 100 products used to manage diabetes, and receive additional offers through an online newsletter and register receipts. Members can also log on to www.CVS.com/extracare or access the CVS mobile app to view personalized ExtraSavings and ExtraBucks Rewards that are available, and choose to "Print" or "Send to Card" their coupon savings and ExtraBucks  Rewards. 

About CVS/pharmacy

CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,400 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. 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 Caremark is available at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike DeAngelis
[email protected]
401.770.2645

SOURCE CVS/pharmacy