MinuteClinic expands telehealth offering to Oregon, Washington

MinuteClinic, CVS Health’s retail medical clinic, has rolled out its video visit offering in Oregon and Washington. People in these states with minor illnesses, minor injuries and skin conditions can now seek care through MinuteClinic Video Visits, a telehealth offering.

MinuteClinic Video Visits provide patients with access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week from their mobile device or computer.

“We’re excited to introduce the states of Oregon and Washington to MinuteClinic through our new MinuteClinic Video Visit offering, as we continue to build our national practice for this virtual care service,” MinuteClinic president Sharon Vitti said. “MinuteClinic Video Visits demonstrate our commitment to delivering high-quality care when and where our patients need it, at prices they can afford; providing people who live and work in these states with access to an innovative, on-demand health care option right from their cell phone or computer.”

MinuteClinic Video Visits can be used to provide care for patients ages two years and older who are seeking treatment for a minor illness, minor injury, or a skin condition and are initiated through a computer or mobile device, including through the CVS Pharmacy app.

Patients who opt to seek care through a MinuteClinic Video Visit will experience the same high-quality, evidence-based care they receive at traditional MinuteClinic locations inside select CVS Pharmacy and Target stores, the company said.

When requesting a video visit, each patient will complete a health questionnaire and be matched to a board-certified health care provider licensed in their state. Prior to the start of the video-enabled visit, the provider will review the completed questionnaire together with the patient’s medical history. During the MinuteClinic Video Visit, the provider will assess the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate course of treatment following evidence-based clinical care guidelines.

For patients who require a prescription as part of their treatment plan, the provider will submit the prescription to the patient’s preferred pharmacy. If it is determined the patient should be seen in person for follow-up care or testing, the provider will recommend that the patient visit a health care provider in their community, such as their primary care provider or a nearby MinuteClinic location.

A MinuteClinic Video Visit costs $59, which is currently payable by credit, debit, FSA and HSA cards. Insurance coverage will be added to the experience in the coming months. The service, first introduced in August 2018, is now available in a total of 32 states - Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming -- and Washington, D.C.

Since MinuteClinic Video Visits launched in August 2018, thousands of Video Visits have been conducted, with more than a third of them taking place outside of traditional clinic hours.

Information about initiating a MinuteClinic Video Visit is part of the clinic locator on the MinuteClinic web site for states where the service is available. A patient can also initiate a MinuteClinic Video Visit directly from the CVS Pharmacy app.