According to a May 26 press release, CVS Health announced the launch of CVS Health Virtual Primary Care—a virtual care solution available through a single digital platform. The solution allows consumers to choose care where and when they want it including in a retail or community-based setting, through at-home health services, or virtually.
The release states that “The new offering, which is being sold to Aetna fully-insured, self-insured plan sponsors, and CVS Caremark clients now, will become effective for eligible Aetna members starting January 1, 2023, and for eligible CVS Caremark members during the second quarter of 2023. It complements Aetna’s virtual care strategy currently in market.”
Further, “CVS Health Virtual Primary Care will give members access to primary care, on-demand care, chronic condition management, and mental health services virtually, with the option of being seen in-person when needed at an in-network provider, including MinuteClinic. The virtual primary care provider can also help members identify appropriate in-network specialists and other in-network health service providers, if necessary.”
It takes, on average, 24 days to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician, according to the release. Additionally, the average wait time for a mental health provider for an in-person visit is 48 days. CVS Health Virtual Primary care aims to assist members to schedule more timely virtual appointments with its Care Team.
“CVS Health Virtual Primary Care will feature a member-selected physician-led Care Team that can consist of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and licensed vocational nurses who can easily be accessed through the platform,” the release adds. “The Care Team will consult with a dedicated CVS pharmacist when needed, which can provide opportunities for medication management. CVS Health Virtual Primary Care will also use an interoperable electronic health record that will help members transition between virtual and in-person care, and their clinical data can also be shared with their other providers. A comprehensive view of data and care activity will allow providers to deliver personalized health alerts that help close gaps in care and maintain wellness.”
The release concludes by explaining that Aetna virtual care solutions will still be available to Aetna plan sponsors and that Caremark will introduce virtual specialty care solutions to the platform in 2023.
