CVS Health to collaborate with Biogen for Alzheimer’s screenings

CVS Health is teaming up with Biogen to focus on brain health, Alzheimer's disease screening and disease education. The company will offer cognitive screenings via its Project Health services program, focused on addressing care disparities for uninsured and underinsured Americans, particularly in racially and ethnically diverse communities.

The partnership follows Biogen receiving approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm. 

The screening program is scheduled to begin in September in Atlanta; Boston; Providence, R.I.; Charlotte, N.C.; Charleston/Columbia, S.C.; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Detroit; Houston; Jackson/Memphis, Tenn.; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C. At the screenings, patients or their caregivers will be able to consult with onsite healthcare providers about their personalized screening results.

[Read more: How CVS helps patients navigate mental health care services]

“We all recognize that the optimal delivery of health care requires multiple stakeholders working together,” said Sree Chaguturu, chief medical officer of CVS Caremark. “We are committed to addressing systemic health disparities in our country, and this novel initiative is an example of how we can use our enterprise assets and capabilities to make a real difference.” 

In addition, Biogen is working with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, a nationwide network of 1,400 clinics that focuses on ensuring the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care. Together, the organizations intend to develop a program that supports brain health and culturally competent Alzheimer’s disease education for patients and healthcare providers within the NAFC member clinic network.

“Of particular importance are our multiple initiatives that aim to address the health disparities and inequities experienced by Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers in underserved communities," said Michel Vounatsos, Biogen CEO. “We are proud to have joined forces with CVS Health and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics to reach the most vulnerable. And we stand ready to cooperate with more stakeholder groups to support broad access to treatment, now and into the future."