CVS Health’s Merlo hits ‘GMA’ to highlight testing push, supply chain efforts

CVS Health CEO Larry Merlo took the airwaves on Wednesday to talk about COVID-19 testing and the supply chain. Merlo spoke to “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan about the company’s plan to expand testing availability nationwide — including its plan to have 1,000 testing sites by the end of May and its expansion in New York. He noted that by June, the company will have the capacity to test 1.5 million Americans every month. 

Merlo said that while front-end products might still be seeing out-of-stocks, he said the company is working with suppliers and limiting quantities on high-demand items to make products last, and highlighted the relative steadiness of the pharmaceutical supply chain. “That is the one element that has not been a problem and it’s a credit to the entire industry,” he said. 

Merlo also highlighted CVS Health’s move to return $43 million the company received from the federal government unsolicited that was distributed to health providers. “We believe that those funds should be in the hands of other healthcare professionals who need it more.”

CVS Health's Merlo isn't the only industry leader to talk to Strahan about testing. Walgreens president Richard Ashworth also discussed testing in early May on the morning talk show.