CVS further expands free health screening program
Project Health will also add four new mobile units and host dedicated events for children and seniors.
Photo courtesy of CVS Health
CVS Health will be expanding its Project Health program, which provides free community-based health screenings, by moving into two new geographic regions – Las Vegas and Richmond, Virginia.
Project Health will also add four new mobile units throughout the course of the year and host dedicated events for children and seniors, CVS said in an announcement.
In an effort to promote the project's expansion, the company will host roughly 1,600 screening events in 45 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2022. They'll be hosted at CVS Pharmacy locations and community organizations, and will offer free biometric screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose level and body mass index to detect early risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
After the screenings, participants will have the chance to meet with a nurse practitioner who can provide referrals for treatment and advice on follow-up care.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Project Health was established in 2006. Since then, CVS Health estimates the program has delivered roughly $139 million in free healthcare services to about 1.1 million people. That encompasses approximately four million biometric screenings in communities with high percentages of uninsured or underinsured people.
CVS Health started building on its Project Health screening events in 2018 upon closure of CVS Health's acquisition of Aetna, which melded Aetna's medical information and analytics with CVS' pharmacy data.
The goal of the merger, and of the expanded health screenings, was to help providers predict and prevent major health events before they occur by, for example, identifying pre-diabetes symptoms or the warning signs of a heart attack.
THE LARGER TREND
CVS Health in December 2021 projected a healthy chunk of revenue in 2022 to the tune of at least $304 billion, and during its Investor Day the company said it may take in as much as $309 billion.
The growth in revenue projections is due in part to a company strategy of investing in high-growth areas of the business and introducing new health products, services and technologies, which CVS said will enhance shareholder value.
Ultimately, CVS Health said its goal is to be a fully integrated company, creating measurable value for customers and shareholders.
The financial projections came on the heels of the company announcing 900 retail store closures the month prior. That announcement revealed there would also be three new distinct store formats aimed at driving higher engagement with consumers and to serve as community health destinations.
These include traditional CVS Pharmacy stores, which will provide prescription services and health, wellness and personal care, sites specializing in primary care service offerings, and enhanced versions of HealthHUB locations, which offer screenings, monitoring, counseling and treatment options, as well as products for common health and wellness needs.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
