In communities nationwide, expanding access to quality care is considered a key health care priority. Yet when asked, Americans generally believe that quality care cannot be accessed at an affordable price or conveniently.
A recent survey conducted by Morning Consult and sponsored by CVS Health shows that Americans believe high-quality care is associated with additional costs. Specifically, 75 percent of Americans believe that high-quality health services are more expensive, while 73 percent agree that access to accredited health care facilities comes with a higher cost. Furthermore, Americans prioritize the quality of care over convenience. For example, nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) Americans are not willing to sacrifice quality for the convenience of a close location and extended hours.
At CVS Health, we believe that patients shouldn’t be faced with a trade-off when managing their health care. We’re committed to delivering affordable and convenient care while maintaining the highest standards of quality in 10,000 communities nationwide.
Beyond helping patients manage their prescription medications, our highly qualified providers serve as knowledgeable and reliable health resources locally. For example, licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants at our MinuteClinic locations deliver compassionate, accessible and patient-centered care, bringing a broad range of high-quality health care services closer to home. In fact, MinuteClinic was the first retail clinic to receive a Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. Additionally, our 30,000 pharmacists help patients manage their care in between doctor visits to ensure they remain adherent to their care plans and improve their health outcomes.
High-Quality Care at a Lower Price
At CVS Health, we work to ensure that quality care is broadly accessible and affordable. Most services at our 1,100 MinuteClinic locations cost approximately $100. A visit to MinuteClinic – as opposed to an urgent care center or hospital emergency department – costs as much as 90 percent less.
Additionally, our real-time benefits program helps prescribers locate clinically appropriate medicines at the lowest cost available through a patient’s benefit plan. When provided with access to member-specific pharmacy benefit and formulary information through this program, prescribers are helping patients save $120 to $130 per filled prescription.
Expanding Quality Care Options
Recognizing it is not always easy to find an appointment with a local, trusted health care provider, our MinuteClinic locations have evening and weekend hours with the ability to schedule an appointment online or chat virtually with providers.
We also recently expanded our telehealth offerings to help patients conveniently manage minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions and other wellness needs. Through a real-time, mobile interaction, our MinuteClinic providers assess patients’ conditions and determine the appropriate course of treatment following evidence-based clinical care guidelines. In doing so, we’re increasing access to quality care by making this service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information about CVS Health’s efforts to improve access to quality care across the nation, visit our Quality & Access information center and the CVS Health Impact Dashboard. To stay informed about the latest updates and innovations from CVS Health, register for content alerts and our bi-weekly health care newsletter.